Method and apparatus for player communication

• US 7,972,213 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2003
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Sammon, Russell P., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol; Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Liddle; Jay Trent
• Application Number:
  US10/655,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20040082384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,861 Days
• Field of Search: 463/40, 463/42, 463/16, 463/20
• US Class Current: 463/40
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for monitoring gaming activities of a player at a gaming device. It is determined, based on the gaming activities, whether to initiate communication between the player and an individual. Communication is enabled between the player and the individual.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions for directing a processor to:

determine that a triggering event has occurred in association with at least one gaming activity at a gaming device, said at least one gaming activity including at least one random determination of a game outcome;

in response to the determination that the triggering event has occurred, determine whether or not to enable a player associated with the gaming device to make an input to request at least one of a product or a service to be offered;

if the determination is to enable the player to make the input to request the at least one of a product or a service to be offered and the player makes said input;

(a) determine an individual to communicate with the player;

(b) determine, based on the at least one gaming activity, the at least one of a product or a service to be offered to the player;

(c) transmit, to the individual, data representing the determined at least one of a product or a service to be offered; and

(d) enable communication between the player and the individual via a portable communication device;

if the determination is to enable the player to make the input to request the at least one of a product or a service to be offered and the player does not make said input, do not offer any product or any service to the player in association with the determination; and

if the determination is to not enable the player to make the input to request the at least one of a product or a service to be offered;

(a) do not enable the player to make said input; and

(b) do not offer any product or any service to the player in association with the determination.

2. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein instructions direct the processor to obtain a player identifier from the player, the player identifier comprising a name of the player.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 2, wherein the player identifier comprises an address of the player.

4. The computer readable medium of claim 2, wherein the player identifier comprises a phone number of the player.

5. The computer readable medium of claim 2, wherein the player identifier comprises a tracking card of the player.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 2, wherein the player identifier comprises a hotel room number of the player.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 2, wherein the player identifier comprises an email address of the player.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 2, wherein the player identifier comprises a payment identifier of the player.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the payment identifier comprises a credit card number.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the payment identifier comprises a debit card number.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the payment identifier comprises a financial account number.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the payment identifier comprises a home billing address.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions for directing a processor to:

monitor at least one gaming activity of a player at a gaming device, said at least one gaming activity including at least one random determination of a game outcome;

determine that a triggering event has occurred in association with said monitored at least one gaming activity;

in response to the determination that the triggering event has occurred, determine whether or not to enable the player to make an input to request at least one of a product or a service to be offered;

if the determination is to enable the player to make the input to request the at least one of a product or a service to be offered and the player makes said input;

(a) determine the at least one of a product or a service to be offered to the player;

(b) transmit, to an individual, data representing the determined at least one of a product or a service to be offered; and

(c) enable communication between the player and the individual via a portable communication device;

if the determination is to enable the player to make the input to request the at least one of a product or a service to be offered and the player does not make said input, do not offer any product or any service to the player in association with the determination; and

if the determination is to no enable the player to make the input to request the at least one of a product or a service to be offered;

(a) do not enable the player to make said input; and

(b) do not offer any product or any service to the player in association with the determination.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, further encoded with instructions for directing the processor to:

enable the individual to provide a service to the player.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 13, further encoded with instructions for directing the processor to:

alter the state of the gaming device based on an input received from the individual.