System and method for collecting and using player information

• US 8,187,087 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2008
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games LLC (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Scientific Games Holdings Ltd (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Herrmann, Mark E., Hardy, Dow K., Acres, John F., Taylor, John E. Jr., Weller, Scott N., Lichtenberger, Francis Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thien F
• Application Number:
  US12/345,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20090176580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/29
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players

Abstract

A distributed computer system is provided for collecting player information. Further, a scoring system is provided that rates a player based on one or more elements of the collected information. Players may be rated with respect to a number of characteristics. Responsive to a determined rating or score, action may be taken by the distributed system with regard to the player. For instance, the player may be provided a complimentary offer, provided an award, and invitation to come to a gambling location, presented an advertisement, or other action may be performed involving the player. Further, the distributed computer system may permit a player to manage their frequent player accounts and receive complimentary offers based on a set of criteria specified by the player.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for interacting with a player comprising acts of:

determining a qualification of a player;

providing a game to be played by the player;

monitoring play of the game by the player; and

in response to the player playing the game and the act of monitoring, providing an award to the player wherein the award is determined, in part, based on the location of the player.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of sponsoring the award by a gambling organization.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the act of sponsoring relates to a location of the player.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of determining a rating of the play of the player responsive to the act of monitoring.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of determining at least one of a group comprising affinities, predispositions, and preferences of the player, the act of determining at least one of the group being responsive to the act of monitoring.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the game includes at least one of the group comprising:

a skill-based game;

a game of chance;

a game having a predetermined outcome; and

a game having an outcome determined after entry into the game is made.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of sponsoring, by a gambling organization, an entry of the player into the game.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of sponsoring, by a gambling organization, a particular prize awarded in the game.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the entry of the player in the game is typically paid for by the player.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of determining an award based on at least one of a group comprising an affinity, a predisposition, and a preference of the player, a location of the player, and a determined score of the player.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the score of the player measures a capacity of the player to spend money.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that when executed on a processor performs a method for interacting with a player in a distributed computer system, the method comprising acts of:

determining a qualification of a player;

providing a game to be played by the player;

monitoring play of the game by the player; and

in response to the player playing the game and the act of monitoring, providing an award to the player wherein the award is determined, in part, based on the location of the player.

13. The computer readable medium according to claim 12, further comprising an act of sponsoring the award by a gambling organization.

14. The computer readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the act of sponsoring relates to a location of the player.

15. The computer readable medium according to claim 12, further comprising an act of determining a rating of the play of the player responsive to the act of monitoring.

16. The computer readable medium according to claim 12, further comprising an act of determining at least one of a group comprising affinities, predispositions, and preferences of the player, the act of determining at least one of the group being responsive to the act of monitoring.

17. The computer readable medium according to claim 12, wherein the game includes at least one of the group comprising:

a skill-based game;

a game of chance;

a game having a predetermined outcome; and

a game having an outcome determined after entry into the game is made.

18. The computer readable medium according to claim 12, further comprising an act of sponsoring, by a gambling organization, an entry of the player into the game.

19. The computer readable medium according to claim 12, further comprising an act of sponsoring, by a gambling organization, a particular prize awarded in the game.

20. The computer readable medium according to claim 12, wherein the entry of the player in the game is typically paid for by the player.

21. The computer readable medium according to claim 12, further comprising an act of determining an award based on at least one of a group comprising an affinity, a predisposition, and a preference of the player, a location of the player, and a determined score of the player.

22. The computer readable medium according to claim 21, wherein the score of the player measures a capacity of the player to spend money.

23. A distributed computer system that interacts with a player;

the system comprising;

a component adapted to determine a qualification of a player;

a component adapted to provide a game to be played by the player;

a component adapted to monitor play of the game by the player; and

a component, responsive to the player playing the game and the component adapted to monitor play, adapted to provide an award to the player wherein the award is determined, in part, based on the location of the player.

24. The system according to claim 23, further comprising a component adapted to sponsor the award by a gambling organization.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein the component adapted to sponsor the award is responsive to a location of the player.

26. The system according to claim 23, further comprising a component adapted to determine a rating of the play of the player responsive to the monitoring component.

27. The system according to claim 23, further comprising a component adapted to determine at least one of a group comprising affinities, predispositions, and preferences of the player, the component adapted to determine the at least one of the group being responsive to the monitoring component.

28. The system according to claim 23, wherein the game includes at least one of the group comprising a single player game;

and a multiplayer game.