System and method for collecting and using player information

• US 8,187,101 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2008
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games Corporation
• Original Assignee: Scientific Games Corporation
• Inventors: Herrmann, Mark E., Hardy, Dow K., Acres, John F., Taylor, John E. Jr., Weller, Scott N., Lichtenberger, Francis Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): Toledo, Fernando L
• Application Number:
  US12/345,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20090170612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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. In a distributed computer system, a method for processing player information, the method comprising acts of:

collecting, by a plurality of computer systems in the distributed computer system, a plurality of data elements relating to a plurality of players;

responsive to the act of collecting, selectively administering a plurality of incentive programs to at least one player of the plurality of players using the distributed computer system;

monitoring redemption of the plurality of incentive programs by the at least one player of the plurality of players; and

automatically adjusting administration of additional programs through the distributed computer system responsive to the act of monitoring, such that the nature of a later-offered incentive is determined, in part, based on the player redeeming or not redeeming a previously-offered incentive.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of monitoring, for the at least one player, performance of administered incentive programs to the at least one player.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of determining a value of layering the plurality of incentive programs to the at least one player.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of determining an effectiveness of layering the plurality of incentives programs to the at least one player.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of providing an interface that permits a user to monitor information relating to the plurality of incentives programs administered to the at least one player.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of optimizing a value of incentives offered to the at least one player based on an estimated worth of the at least one player.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of tracking a history of behavior of the at least one player with respect to incentives programs administered to the at least one player and modifying further incentives based on the tracked history of behavior.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of determining a value of the at least one player.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the act of determining a value includes determining an average spend rate of the at least one player of the plurality of players.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of maintaining behavior information relating to incentives administered to the at least one player in a profile associated with the at least one player.

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

collecting, by a plurality of computer systems in the distributed computer system, a plurality of data elements relating to a plurality of players;

responsive to the act of collecting, selectively administering a plurality of incentive programs to at least one player of the plurality of players using the distributed computer system;

monitoring redemption of the plurality of incentive programs by the at least one player of the plurality of players; and

automatically adjusting administration of additional programs through the distributed computer system responsive to the act of monitoring, such that the nature of a later-offered incentive is determined, in part, based on the player redeeming or not redeeming a previously-offered incentive.

12. The computer readable medium according to claim 11, further comprising an act of monitoring, for the at least one player, performance of administered incentive programs to the at least one player.

13. The computer readable medium according to claim 11, further comprising an act of determining a value of layering the plurality of incentive programs to the at least one player.

14. The computer readable medium according to claim 11, further comprising an act of determining an effectiveness of layering the plurality of incentives programs to the at least one player.

15. The computer readable medium according to claim 11, further comprising an act of providing an interface that permits a user to monitor information relating to the plurality of incentives programs administered to the at least one player.

16. The computer readable medium according to claim 11, further comprising an act of optimizing a value of incentives offered to the at least one player based on an estimated worth of the at least one player.

17. The computer readable medium according to claim 11, further comprising an act of tracking a history of behavior of the at least one player with respect to incentives programs administered to the at least one player and modifying further incentives based on the tracked history of behavior.

18. The computer readable medium according to claim 11, further comprising an act of determining a value of the at least one player.

19. The computer readable medium according to claim 18, wherein the act of determining a value includes determining an average spend rate of the at least one player of the plurality of players.

20. The computer readable medium according to claim 11, further comprising an act of maintaining behavior information relating to incentives administered to the at least one player in a profile associated with the at least one player.

21. A distributed computer system for processing player information, the system comprising:

one or more components adapted to collect, by a plurality of computer systems in the distributed computer system, a plurality of data elements relating to a plurality of players;

a component, responsive to the collection component, adapted to selectively administer a plurality of incentive programs to at least one player of the plurality of players;

a component adapted to monitor redemption of the plurality of incentive programs by the at least one player of the plurality of players; and

a component adapted to automatically adjust administration of additional programs through the distributed computer system responsive to the monitoring component, such that the nature of a later-offered incentive is determined, in part, based on the player redeeming or not redeeming a previously-offered incentive.

22. The system according to claim 21, further comprising a component adapted to monitor, for the at least one player, performance of administered incentive programs to the at least one player.

23. The system according to claim 21, further comprising a component adapted to determine a value of layering the plurality of incentive programs to the at least one player.

24. The system according to claim 21, further comprising a component adapted to determine an effectiveness of layering the plurality of incentives programs to the at least one player.

25. The system according to claim 21, further comprising an interface that permits a user to monitor information relating to the plurality of incentives programs administered to the at least one player.

26. The system according to claim 21, further comprising a component adapted to optimize a value of incentives offered to the at least one player based on an estimated worth of the at least one player.

27. The system according to claim 21, further comprising a component adapted to track a history of behavior of the at least one player with respect to incentives programs administered to the at least one player and modify further incentives based on the tracked history of behavior.

28. The system according to claim 21, further comprising a component adapted to determine a value of the at least one player.

29. The system according to claim 28, further comprising a component adapted to determine an average spend rate of the at least one player of the plurality of players.

30. The system according to claim 21, further comprising a component adapted to maintain behavior information relating to incentives administered to the at least one player in a profile associated with the at least one player.