System and method for wireless gaming system with user profiles

• US 7,534,169 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2005
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interactive Games LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Inventors: WILKINS, ALAN B., Asher, Joseph M., MYLET, DARRIN M., BAHRAMPOUR, ROBERT F., Amaitis, Lee M., Lutnick, Howard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hotaling, II, John M
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEODHAR, OMKAR A
• Application Number:
  US11/199,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20070060305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,379 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 463/39
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/086 played via telephone, e.g. using a modem
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• 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 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

A gaming system is provided. The gaming system allows users to access applications via gaming communication devices coupled to a communication network. At least a portion of the network may be wireless. The gaming applications include gambling, financial, entertainment service, and other types of transactions. The system may include a user location determination feature to prevent users from conducting transactions from unauthorized areas. The gaming system may incorporate a user profile feature according to which certain information regarding users of the system may be maintained. Such information can include, without limitation, information relating to preferences, finances, activities participated in by the users, and trends and habits of the users.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one data storage device electronically coupled to the at least one processor, the at least one data storage device operable to store;

a program, and

at least one profile associated with a user of a gaming device, the gaming device being operable to make a plurality of gaming activities available to the user for play via the gaming device; and

wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor operable to at least;

update the user'"'"'s profile to reflect a first success level of the user in playing a first of the plurality of gaming activities via the gaming device during a first gaming session;

in response to a start of a second gaming session that is subsequent to a termination of the first gaming session;

determine from the user'"'"'s profile at least the first success level of the user in playing the first gaming activity during the first gaming session;

based at least in part on the first success level, modify a gaming environment, wherein the modification includes a change as to how the first gaming activity is presented to the user as a possible gaming activity that the user may play via the gaming device during the second gaming session; and

present to the user, via the gaming device, the first gaming activity according to the modified gaming environment.

2. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the gaming device comprises a mobile gaming device;

and

wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least;

determine a plurality of locations of the gaming device as the user and the gaming device move; and

store in the user'"'"'s profile the plurality of locations.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

store for the plurality of locations at least one of a date and a time of day at which the gaming device was at the respective location.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of locations indicate a route taken by the user and the gaming device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

receive from the user a selection of one of the plurality of gaming activities, the selected gaming activity having a minimum betting limit of a given size; and

based at least in part on the size of the minimum betting limit, determine from the user'"'"'s profile a past betting style of the user.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

store, in the user'"'"'s profile, information relating to betting by the user, wherein the information indicates a betting habit of the user.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

determine at least one betting trend based at least in part on information relating to betting occurring via the gaming device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one betting trend comprises a directional movement in a betting amount occurring via the gaming device.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least on betting trend comprises an acceleration of an increase or decrease in a betting amount occurring via the gaming device.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

based at least in part on the betting trend, cause the user to re-verify an identity of the user.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein to cause the user to re-verify the identity of the user comprises to cause the user to re-verify information associated with the user'"'"'s ability to access the gaming device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the re-verification information comprises identity information.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

based at least in part on the betting trend, cause a disablement of the gaming device.

14. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

based at least in part on the betting trend, cause a player of the gaming device to verify that the player is the user.

15. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

determine from the user'"'"'s profile that a majority of time that the user played the first gaming activity during the first gaming session, the first gaming activity had a minimum betting limit of a first amount; and

wherein to modify the gaming environment further comprises to;

based at least in part on determining that the majority of time that the user played the first gaming activity during the first gaming session the first gaming activity had the minimum betting limit of the first amount, modify the gaming environment such that the first gaming activity is presented to the user as having a minimum betting limit of the first amount.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

determine from the user'"'"'s profile data indicative of at least one debt owed by the user; and

display to the user via the gaming device an offer for the user to make a bet of at least a portion of the at least one debt owed by the user on at least one of the plurality of gaming activities.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one debt comprises at least one:

a restaurant tab,

a bar tab,

a hotel invoice,

a bill for purchased merchandise, and

a bill for a show.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

display to the user via the gaming device an invitation for the user to make a bet that will be matched by a casino.

19. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein to update the user'"'"'s profile to reflect the first success level of the user in playing the first gaming activity comprises to update the user'"'"'s profile to reflect that the user was successful in playing the first gaming activity;

wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least;

update the user'"'"'s profile to reflect that the user was not successful in playing a second of the plurality of gaming activities via the gaming device during the first gaming session; and

in response to the start of the second gaming session, determine that the player was successful in playing the first gaming activity and not successful in playing the second gaming activity during the first gaming session; and

wherein to modify the gaming environment comprises to modify the gaming environment based at least in part on determining that the player was successful in playing the first gaming activity and not successful in playing the second gaming activity during the first gaming session.

20. The apparatus of claim 19,

wherein to update the user'"'"'s profile to reflect that the user was successful in playing the first gaming activity comprises to update the user'"'"'s profile to reflect that the user won money in playing the first gaming activity;

and

wherein to update the user'"'"'s profile to reflect that the user was not successful in playing the second gaming activity comprises to update the user'"'"'s profile to reflect that the user lost money in playing the second gaming activity.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the termination of the first gaming session and the start of the second gaming session are associated with a logging off of the user from the apparatus and a logging in of the user to the apparatus, respectively.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gaming device comprises a mobile handheld device.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first gaming activity and the second gaming activity each comprises at least one of:

a gambling activity, and

wagering on a sporting event.

24. An apparatus comprising:

at least one data storage device operable to store;

a program, and

at least one profile associated with a user of a gaming device, the gaming device being operable to make a plurality of gaming activities available to the user for play via the gaming device; and

at least one processor electronically coupled to the at least one data storage device; and

wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor operable to at least;

update the user'"'"'s profile to indicate a last one of the plurality of gaming activities played by the user during a first gaming session via the gaming device, and prior to a termination of the first gaming session; and

in response to a start of a second gaming session that is subsequent to the termination of the first gaming session;

determine from the user'"'"'s profile the last gaming activity played by the user during the first gaming session;

based at least in part on determining the last gaming activity played by the user during the first gaming session, modify a gaming environment, wherein the modification includes a change as to how the last gaming activity is presented to the user as a possible gaming activity that the user may play via the gaming device during the second gaming session; and

present to the user, via the gaming device, the last gaming activity according to the modified gaming environment.

25. The apparatus of claim 24,

wherein the gaming device comprises a mobile gaming device;

and

wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least;

determine a plurality of locations of the gaming device as the user and the gaming device move; and

store in the user'"'"'s profile the plurality of locations.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the program, when execute by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

store for the plurality of locations at least one of a date and a time of day at which the gaming device was at the respective location.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the plurality of locations indicate a route taken by the user and the gaming device.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

receive from the user a selection of one of the plurality of gaming activities the selected gaming activity having a minimum betting limit of a given size; and

based at least in part on the size of the minimum betting limit, determine from the user'"'"'s profile a past betting style of the user.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

store, in the user'"'"'s profile, information relating to betting by the user, wherein the information indicates a betting habit of the user.

30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

determine at least one betting trend based at least in part on information relating to betting occuring via the gaming device.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the at least one betting trend comprises a directional movement in a betting amount occurring via the gaming device.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the at least one betting trend comprises an acceleration of an increase or decrease in a betting amount occurring via the gaming device.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

based at least in part on the betting trend, cause the user to re-verify an identity of the user.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein to cause the user to re-verify the identity of the user comprises to cause the user to re-verify information associated with the user'"'"'s ability to access the gaming device.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the re-verification information comprises identity information.

36. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

based at least in part on the betting trend, cause a disablement of the gaming device.

37. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

based at least in part on the betting trend, cause a player of the gaming device to verify that the player is the user.

38. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

determine from the user'"'"'s profile that a majority of time that the user played a given gaming activity during a given gaming session, the given gaming activity had a minimum betting limit of a given amount; and

in a subsequent gaming session that is after the given gaming session, present to the user, via the gaming device, the given gaming activity as a possible gaming activity that the user may play via the gaming device during the subsequent gaming session, and wherein the given gaming activity is presented to the user as having a minimum betting limit of the given amount.

39. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

determine from the user'"'"'s profile data indicative of at least one debt owed by the user; and

display to the user via the gaming device an offer for the user to make a bet of at least a portion of the at least one debt owed by the user on at least one of the plurality of gaming activities.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the at least one debt comprises at least one:

a restaurant tab,

a bar tab,

a hotel invoice,

a bill for purchased merchandise, and

a bill for a show.

41. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

display to the user via the gaming device an invitation for the user to make a bet that will be matched by a casino.

42. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the termination of the first gaming session and the start of the second gaming session are associated with a logging off of the user from the apparatus and a logging in of the user to the apparatus, respectively.

43. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the gaming device comprises a mobile handheld device.

44. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the last gaming activity comprises at least one of:

a gambling activity, and

wagering on a sporting event.

45. An apparatus comprising:

at least one data storage device operable to store;

a program; and

at least one profile associated with a user of a gaming device, the gaming device being operable to make a plurality of gaming activities available to the user for play via the gaming device; and

at least one processor electronically coupled to the at least one data storage device; and

wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor operable to at least;

in response to a start of a gaming session;

determine from the user'"'"'s profile that the user plays a first of the plurality of gaming activities at a certain time of day;

determine a current time of day;

determine that the current time of day corresponds to the certain time of day;

based at least in part on determining that the current time of day corresponds to the certain time of day, modify a gaming environment, wherein the modification includes a change as to how the first gaming activity is presented to the user as a possible gaming activity that the user may play via the gaming device during the gaming session; and

present to the user via, the gaming device, the first gaming activity according to the modified gaming environment.

46. The apparatus of claim 45,

wherein the gaming device comprises a mobile gaming device;

and

wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least;

determine a plurality of locations of the gaming device as the user and the gaming device move; and

store in the user'"'"'s profile the plurality of locations.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the program, when execute by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

store for the plurality of locations at least one of a date and a time of day at which the gaming device was at the respective location.

48. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the plurality of locations indicate a route taken by the user and the gaming device.

49. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

receive from the user a selection of one of the plurality of gaming activities, the selected gaming activity having a minimum betting limit of a given size; and

based at least in part on the size of the minimum betting limit, determine from the user'"'"'s profile a past betting style of the user.

50. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

store, in the user'"'"'s profile, information relating to betting by the user, wherein the information indicates a betting habit of the user.

51. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

determine at least one betting trend based at least in part on information relating to betting occurring via the gaming device.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the at least one betting trend comprises a directional movement in a betting amount occurring via the gaming device.

53. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the at least one betting trend comprises an acceleration of an increase or decrease in a betting amount occurring via the gaming device.

54. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

based at least in part on the betting trend, cause a player of the gaming device to verify that the player is the user.

55. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

based at least in part on the betting trend, cause a disablement of the gaming device.

56. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

based at least in part on the betting trend, cause the user to re-verify an identity of the user.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein to cause the user to re-verify the identity of the user comprises to cause the user to re-verify information associated with the user'"'"'s ability to access the gaming device.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the re-verification information comprises identity information.

59. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

determine from the user'"'"'s profile that a majority of time that the user played a given gaming activity during a given gaming session, the given gaming activity had a minimum betting limit of a given amount; and

in a subsequent gaming session that is after the given gaming session, present to the user, via the gaming device, the given gaming activity as a possible gaming activity that the user may play via the gaming device during the subsequent gaming session, and wherein the given gaming activity is presented to the user as having a minimum betting limit of the given amount.

60. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

determine from the user'"'"'s profile data indicative of at least one debt owed by the user; and

display to the user via the gaming device an offer for the user to make a bet of at least a portion of the at least one debt owed by the user on at least one of the plurality of gaming activities.

61. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the at least one debt comprises at least one:

a restaurant tab,

a bar tab,

a hotel invoice,

a bill for purchased merchandise, and

a bill for a show.

62. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, makes the at least one processor further operable to at least:

display to the user via the gaming device an invitation for the user to make a bet that will be matched by a casino.

63. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the start of the gaming session is associated with a logging in of the user to the apparatus.

64. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the gaming device comprises a mobile handheld device.

65. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the first gaming activity comprises at least one of:

a gambling activity, and

wagering on a sporting event.