Method and apparatus for generating directives for personnel

• US 7,950,997 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2006
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Friesen, Scott T., Tulley, Stephen C., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Sammon, Russell P., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bumgarner; Melba
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yoo; Jasson H
• Application Number:
  US11/552,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20070087810A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/40, 705/14.1, 705/14.12
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements

Abstract

A system and method include determining a recipient of an offer; and determining an offer which includes an activity and a benefit. The system and method further include transmitting, to a representative, instructions to provide the offer to the recipient. The system and method further include determining whether the recipient has performed the activity, and if so providing the benefit to the recipient.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming system comprising:

(a) causing at least one processor to select a recipient of an offer from a list of possible recipients, said selected recipient including a player at a gaming device in a casino;

(b) causing the at least one processor to determine the offer for said selected recipient, the offer including;

(i) an activity to be performed by the selected recipient after receiving information about the offer, and

(ii) a plurality of free credits for play of the gaming device to be provided to the selected recipient if the activity is performed;

(c) causing the at least one processor to wirelessly transmit instructions to a device associated with a casino representative instructing the casino representative to provide the information about the offer to the selected recipient, said information including a description of the activity and the plurality of free credits;

(d) after the information about the offer is provided to the selected recipient, causing the at least one processor to receive an indication of whether the selected recipient has performed the activity; and

(e) in response to receiving an indication that the selected recipient has performed the activity, causing the plurality of free credits for play of the gaming device to be provided to the selected recipient.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing the at least one processor to transmit information about the selected recipient to the device associated with the casino representative, the information about the selected recipient including at least one of:

a name of the recipient;

a location of the recipient in the casino;

an identification number of the recipient; and

a contact identifier of the recipient.

3. A non-transitory computer readable medium which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

(a) select a recipient from a list of possible recipients, said selected recipient including a player at a gaming device in a casino;

(b) determine an offer for said selected recipient, said offer including;

(i) an activity to be performed by the selected recipient after receiving information about the offer, and

(ii) a benefit to be provided to the selected recipient if the activity is performed; and

(c) wirelessly transmit instructions to a casino representative device to provide the information about the offer to the selected recipient, the information including a description of the activity to be performed by the selected recipient and the benefit to be provided to the selected recipient if the activity is performed.

4. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 3, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to transmit information about the selected recipient to said device associated with the casino representative, the information about the selected recipient including at least one of:

a name of the recipient;

a location of the recipient in the casino;

an identification number of the recipient; and

a contact identifier of the recipient.

5. A gaming system comprising:

a central computer;

a plurality of casino representative devices configured to communicate with the central computer, each of said plurality of casino representative devices associated with one of a plurality of casino representatives;

a plurality of gaming devices configured to communicate with the central computer; and

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

(a) determine a recipient of the offer, said recipient including a player at one of said plurality of gaming devices;

(b) determine the offer, said offer including;

(i) an activity to be performed by the recipient after receiving information describing the offer, and

(ii) a benefit to be provided to the recipient if the activity is performed;

(c) determine one of said casino representatives; and

(d) wirelessly transmit instructions to the casino representative device associated with said determined one of the casino representatives to provide the information describing the offer to the recipient.

6. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the central computer, cause the central computer to transmit information about the recipient to the device associated with the determined one of the casino representatives, said information about the recipient including at least one of:

a name of the recipient;

a location of the recipient in a casino;

an identification number of the recipient; and

a contact identifier of the recipient.