Methods and apparatus for facilitating interaction with a gaming device

• US 7,658,674 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2006
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Sparico, Thomas M., Tulley, Stephen C., Downs, Michael D., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter Dungba
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ahmed; Masud
• Application Number:
  US11/423,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20060224258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• 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 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played

Abstract

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method provides for determining data associated with a player of a gaming device; determining whether the data meets at least one established criterion; and providing an offer to the player if the data meets the at least one established criterion, the offer including a condition and a description of a product to be provided to the player in exchange for the player agreeing to the condition.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a win of a player at a gaming device;

providing, based at least in part on the determining of the win an offer for the player to purchase a product;

determining an acceptance of the offer by the player; and

adjusting, based at least on part on the determining of the acceptance of the offer by the player, a monetary balance associated with the player;

wherein, the determining and adjusting steps are done by the gaming device or a server in communication with the gaming device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the offer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining of the offer comprises:

determining a preference associated with the player; and

selecting, based on the determining of the preference associated with the player, the offer from a plurality of available offers.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a subset of a plurality of gaming devices via which the offer should be displayed; and

determining that the gaming device is one of the subset of gaming devices.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the providing is further based at least in part on the determining that the gaming device is one of the subset of gaming devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the acceptance comprises:

receiving, from the player, an indication of an acceptance of the offer.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the adjusting comprises:

selling the product to the player for a price.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the selling comprises:

charging the price to a credit card associated with the player.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the selling comprises:

debiting the price from a debit account associated with the player.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the selling comprises:

charging the price to a hotel room associated with the player.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the selling comprises:

debiting the price from a balance of complimentary points associated with the player.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining of the offer is based at least in part on an available inventory of the product.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining of the offer is based at least in part on a history of acceptance of the offer.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining of the offer is based at least in part on a history of acceptance of offers by the player.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining of the offer is based at least in part on a status of the player.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining of the offer is based at least in part on a statistic associated with the player.

17. The method of claim 2, wherein the product comprises a service and wherein the determining of the offer is based at least in part on a current level of utilization of the service.

18. The method of claim 2, wherein the offer comprises one of a first advertisement for the product and a second advertisement for the product, wherein the first and second advertisements are different.

19. A computer-readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to perform the method of:

determining a win of a player at a gaming device;

providing, based at least in part on the determining of the win, an offer for the player to purchase a product;

determining an acceptance of the offer by the player; and

adjusting, based at least on part on the determining of the acceptance of the offer by the player, a monetary balance associated with the player.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable medium in communication with the processor and storing instructions configured to direct a processor to;

determine a win of a player at a gaming device;

provide, based at least in part on the determining of the win, an offer for the player to purchase a product;

determine an acceptance of the offer by the player; and

adjust, based at least on part on the determining of the acceptance of the offer by the player, a monetary balance associated with the player.