System and method for wireless gaming system with alerts

• US 7,637,810 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2005
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interactive Games LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Inventors: Lutnick, Howard W., Asher, Joseph M., Amaitis, Lee M., Bahrampour, Robert F., Mylet, Darrin M., Wilkins, Alan B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol; Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEICHLITER, CHASE E
• Application Number:
  US11/199,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20070060355A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 463 25- 28, 463/29, 463/39, 463/40, 463/42, 701/213, 342/357.13, 340/996, 340/993, 340/988
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine

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 system may include an alerts feature operable to generate alert to users based on any or a combination of time information, location information, financial information, user profile information, and other types of information.

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 comprising instructions, and

alert information associated with a gaming activity by a first user of a first mobile gaming device, the first mobile gaming device being in electronic communication with the at least one processor, the first mobile gaming device being operable to make a plurality of gaming activities available to the first user for play via the first mobile gaming device;

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

transmit gaming information to the first mobile gaming device;

determine first information about a first location of the first mobile gaming device;

store the first information about the first location of the first mobile gaming device;

determine that the first user is engaged in the gaming activity at a game location based at least in part on the act of determining the first information about the first location of the first mobile gaming device;

determine that an event has occurred, in which the act of determining that the event has occurred comprises determining a change in location of a second mobile gaming device used by a second user, the second user being associated in a database with the first user;

responsive at least to (a) the determination that the event has occurred comprising the determination of the change in location of the second mobile gaming device and (b) the determination that the first user is engaged in the gaming activity at the game location, generate an alert based at least in part on the information about the first location of the first mobile gaming device, the alert comprising the alert information; and

transmit the alert to the second mobile gaming device for presentation to the second user, the alert comprising information associated in a database with the first user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the act of generating the alert comprises generating the alert at least partially based on time information.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the act of generating the alert comprises generating the alert at least partially based on user location information.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the user location information comprises information determined by the at least one processor based on the first location of the first user.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the user location information comprises information determined by the at least one processor based on a determined location of the second user not receiving the alert.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the at least one data storage device is further operable to store a user profile of the first user, and wherein the act of generating the alert comprises generating the alert information in the user profile.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein content of the alert information is determined by the at least one processor at least partially based on time information.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein content of the alert information is determined by the at least one processor at least partially based on user location information.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the at least one data storage device is further operable to store a user profile of the first user, wherein content of the alert information is determined by the at least one processor at least partially based on information in a user profile.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the act of transmitting the alert comprises transmitting the alert based at least partially on time information.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the act of transmitting the alert comprises transmitting the alert based at least partially on user location information.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the at least one data storage device is further operable to store a user profile of the first user, and wherein the act of transmitting the alert comprises transmitting the alert based at least partially on information in the user profile.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an alerts module accessible by the at least one processor, the alerts module operable to manage data associated with a plurality of alerts.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alert information comprises an invitation to participate in a gaming activity.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alert information comprises an invitation to place a bet.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the program further directs the at least one processor to:

determine that the location of the first user is near to a location where a service is provided; and

responsive to determining that the location of the first user is near to the location where a service is provided, transmit to the first mobile gaming device a promotional announcement comprising an advertisement for the service.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, further directs the at least one processor to transmit a second alert to the second user, the second alert comprising second alert information comprising information determined by the at least one processor based on the scheduling of an event.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, further directs the at least one processor to transmit a second alert to the second user, the second alert comprising second alert information comprising alert information comprises information determined by the at least one processor based on the first user'"'"'s financial status.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alert comprises directional information.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a location determination apparatus in electronic communication with the first mobile gaming device and the at least one processor, the location determination apparatus operable to determine the location of the first user,

in which the program further directs the at least one processor to provide directional information to the first user based at least partially on the location of the first user and at least partially on the location of an activity being offered to the first user based on determining that an event has occurred.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alert comprises directional information provided to the first user, the directional information being based at least partially on the location of the second user, in which the second user does not receive the alert.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alert comprises an audible signal.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alert comprises a verbal message.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alert comprises a textual message.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alert comprises a graphical display on the display screen.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, directs the at least one processor to determine a priority between a first alert and a second alert, and wherein the first alert and the second alert are provided to the first user at least partially according to the priority.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first alert is provided in a first format, and wherein the second alert is provided in a second format different from the first format.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alert comprises information displayed in a pop-up window on the display screen.

29. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alert comprises a scrolling image on the display screen.

30. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alert information comprises an indication that a gaming activity is available.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the gaming activity comprises an activity at a physical location.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the gaming activity is a virtual gaming activity.

33. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first user sets one or more parameters to trigger the alert.

34. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first mobile gaming device is electronically coupled to the processor over a first communications network and wherein the alert is provided to the first user over a second communications network.

35. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, further directs the at least one processor to transmit a second alert to the second user, the second alert comprising second alert information comprising information corresponding to the betting limits at a gaming table.

36. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, further directs the at least one processor to transmit a second alert to the second user, the second alert comprising second alert information indicating that a service provider is on duty at a particular station.

37. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alert is generated in response to the sensing of an electronic signal by a wireless access point.

38. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alert information comprises information regarding conditions at a location.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising an image generation device, the image generation device generating an image of the location and providing the image to the first user.

40. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the program, when executed by the at least one processor, further directs the at least one processor to transmit a second alert to the second user, the second alert comprising second alert information comprising information regarding odds associated with a gambling opportunity.

41. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the program, when executed, further directs the at least one processor to transmit information to the second mobile gaming device based on the occurrence of a predetermined time.

42. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the program, when executed, further directs the at least one processor to transmit information to the second mobile gaming device based on the passage of a predetermined period of time.

43. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the program, when executed, further directs the at least one processor to transmit information to the second mobile gaming device based on the placement of a bet by the first user.

44. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the program, when executed, further directs the at least one processor to transmit information to the second mobile gaming device based on the selection of an activity by the first user.

45. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the program, when executed, further directs the at least one processor to transmit information to the second mobile gaming device based on a determination regarding the size of a bet in a game.

46. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the program, when executed, further directs the at least one processor to transmit information to the second mobile gaming device based on a determination that the first user is in a particular location.

47. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the program, when executed, further directs the at least one processor to transmit information to the second mobile gaming device based on the arrival of the first user at a particular location.

48. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the program, when executed, further directs the at least one processor to transmit information to the second mobile gaming device based on the departure of the first user from a particular location.

49. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the program, when executed, further directs the at least one processor to transmit information to the second mobile gaming device based on a financial transaction.

50. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein content of the alert information is determined at least partially based on time information.

51. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alert comprises directional information provided to the second user, wherein the directional information is determined by the at least one processor based at least partially on the location of the second user, and wherein the directional information comprises directions from the second user'"'"'s location to a gaming activity associated with the first user.

52. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the act of determining that an event has occurred comprises determining that the second user has left a particular area and the first user is engaging in the gaming activity, in which the alert comprises information about the location of the second user and an invitation to join the gaming activity.

53. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the act of determining the change

in location of a second mobile gaming device used by the second user comprises at least one of:

(1) determining that the second user has left a second location that is different from the first location;

(2) determining that the second user has entered the first location;

or

(3) determining that the second user has entered a second location that is different from the first location.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, in which the alert comprises directions from (a) a current location of the second user determined by the processor to (b) an event.

55. The apparatus of claim 53, in which the alert comprises directions from (a) a current location of the second user determined by the processor to (b) a current location of the first user determined by the processor.

56. The apparatus of claim 53, in which the alert comprises directions from a location associated with the second user to a location associated with the first user.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, in which the directions comprise a series of locations comprising at least one location on a route between a location associated with the second user to a location associated with the first user.

58. The apparatus of claim 56, in which the directions comprise a route from a location associated with the second user to a location associated with the first user.

59. The apparatus of claim 53, in which the alert comprises information about the gaming activity.

60. The apparatus of claim 53, in which the alert comprises an invitation to join the first user in the gaming activity.

61. The apparatus of claim 53, in which the game location comprises a gaming table in a casino.

62. The apparatus of claim 53, in which the second mobile gaming device comprises a display screen, and in which the program, when executed by the at least one processor, further directs the at least one processor to:

cause the display screen to display location information associated with the determined location of the first user.

63. The apparatus of claim 53, in which the first information about the first location of the first mobile gaming device comprises a gaming area of a casino, and in which the alert comprises information about the gaming area.

64. The apparatus of claim 53, in which the first information about the first location of the first mobile gaming device comprises a specific gaming table of a casino, and in which the alert comprises information about the specific gaming table.

65. The apparatus of claim 53, in which the alert comprises information about a determined location of the first user.

66. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the act of determining the change in location of a second mobile gaming device used by the second user comprises determining that the second user has left a second location that is different from the first location.

67. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the act of determining the change in location of a second mobile gaming device used by the second user comprises determining that the second user has entered the first location.

68. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the act of determining the change in location of a second mobile gaming device used by the second user comprises determining that the second user has entered a second location that is different from the first location.

69. A method of providing an alert to a user on a gaming system, the method comprising:

establishing by at least one processor a communications link between a first mobile gaming device of a first user and the at least one processor, the at least one processor being in electronic communication with the first mobile gaming device;

making a plurality of gaming activities available to the first user for play via the first mobile gaming device;

storing by the at least one processor alert information on a data storage device;

transmitting gaming information to the first mobile gaming device;

determining first information about a first location of the first mobile gaming device;

storing the information about the first location of the first mobile gaming device;

determining by the at least one processor that the first user is engaged in the gaming activity at a game location based at least in part on the act of determining first information about the first location of the first mobile gaming device;

determining by the at least one processor that an event has occurred, in which the act of determining that the event has occurred comprises determining a change in location of a second mobile gaming device used by a second user, the second user being associated in a database with the first user;

responsive at least to (a) the determination that the event has occurred comprising the determination of the change in location of the second mobile gaming device and (b) the determination that the first user is engaged in the gaming activity at the game location, generating by the at least one processor an alert based on the information about the first location of the first mobile gaming device, the alert comprising the alert information; and

transmitting by the at least one processor the alert to the second mobile gaming device for presentation to the second user via the second mobile gaming device based on at least one or more criteria, the alert comprising information associated in a database with the first user.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the act of generating the alert comprises generating alert time information.

71. The method of claim 69, wherein the act of generating the alert comprises generating alert user location information.

72. The method of claim 71 , wherein the user location information comprises information determined by the at least one processor based on a determined current location of the first user.

73. The method of claim 71 , wherein the user location information comprises information determined by the at least one processor based on a determined current location of a second user not receiving the alert.

74. The method of claim 69, further comprising storing a user profile of the first user, and wherein the act of generating the alert comprises generating the alert information in the user profile.

75. The method of claim 69, wherein content of the alert information is at least partially dependent upon time information.

76. The method of claim 69, wherein content of the alert information is at least partially dependent upon user location information.

77. The method of claim 69, further comprising storing a user profile of the first user, and wherein content of the alert information is at least partially dependent upon information in the user profile.

78. The method of claim 69, wherein the transmitting of the alert is at least partially dependent upon time information.

79. The method of claim 69, wherein the transmitting of the alert is at least partially dependent upon user location information.

80. The method of claim 69, further comprising storing a user profile of the first user, and wherein the act of transmitting the alert comprises transmitting the alert based at least partially on information in the user profile.

81. The method of claim 69, further comprising managing data associated with a plurality of alerts.

82. The method of claim 69, wherein the alert comprises an invitation to participate in a gaming activity.

83. The method of claim 69, further comprising transmitting to the second user a second alert comprising an invitation to place a bet.

84. The method of claim 69, further comprising:

determining that the location of the first user is near to the location where a service is provided; and

transmitting to the first mobile gaming device a promotional announcement comprising an advertisement for the service.

85. The method of claim 69, further comprising transmitting to the second user a second alert comprising information regarding a scheduling of an event.

86. The method of claim 69, wherein the alert comprises information regarding the first user'"'"'s financial status.

87. The method of claim 69, wherein the alert comprises directional information.

88. The method of claim 69, further comprising:

determining a current location of the first user; and

providing directional information to the first user based at least partially on the determined current location of the first user and at least partially on a location of an activity being offered to the first user.

89. The method of claim 69, wherein the alert comprises directional information provided to the first user, the directional information being based at least partially on a location of a second user not receiving the alert.

90. The method of claim 69, wherein the alert comprises an audible signal.

91. The method of claim 69, wherein the alert comprises a verbal message.

92. The method of claim 69, wherein the alert comprises a textual message.

93. The method of claim 69, wherein the alert comprises a graphical display.

94. The method of claim 69, further comprising determining a priority between a first alert and a second alert, and wherein the first alert and the second alert are provided to the first user at least partially according to the priority.

95. The method of claim 94, wherein the first alert is provided in a first format, and wherein the second alert is provided in a second format different from the first format.

96. The method of claim 69, wherein the alert comprises information displayed in a pop-up window.

97. The method of claim 69, wherein the alert comprises a scrolling image.

98. The method of claim 69, wherein the alert comprises an indication that a gaming activity is available.

99. The method of claim 98, wherein the gaming activity comprises an activity at a physical location.

100. The method of claim 98, wherein the gaming activity is a virtual gaming activity.

101. The method of claim 69, wherein the first user sets one or more parameters to trigger the alert.

102. The method of claim 69, wherein the first mobile gaming device is electronically coupled to the processor over a first communications network, and wherein the alert is provided to the first user over a second communications network.

103. The method of claim 69, further comprising transmitting to the second user a second alert comprising information corresponding to the betting limits at a gaming table.

104. The method of claim 69, further comprising transmitting to the second mobile gaming device information indicating that a service provider is on duty at a particular gaming station.

105. The method of claim 69, wherein the alert is generated in response to the sensing of an electronic signal by a wireless access point.

106. The method of claim 69, wherein the alert comprises information regarding one or more conditions at a location.

107. The method of claim 106, further comprising:

generating an image of a determined current location of the first user; and

providing the image to the first user.

108. The system of claim 69, wherein the alert comprises information regarding odds associated with a gambling opportunity.

109. The method of claim 69, in which the act of determining the change

in location of a second mobile gaming device used by the second user comprises at least one of:

(1) determining that the second user has left a second location that is different from the first location;

(2) determining that the second user has entered the first location;

or

(3) determining that the second user has entered a second location that is different from the first location.

110. The method of claim 69, in which the act of determining the change in location of a second mobile gaming device used by the second user comprises determining that the second user has left a second location that is different from the first location.

111. The method of claim 69, in which the act of determining the change in location of a second mobile gaming device used by the second user comprises determining that the second user has entered the first location.

112. The method of claim 69, in which the act of determining the change in location of a second mobile gaming device used by the second user comprises determining that the second user has entered a second location that is different from the first location.