System and method for collecting and using player information

• US 8,277,324 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2008
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• 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): Such, Matthew W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carpenter, Robert
• Application Number:
  US12/345,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20090176579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,373 Days
• Field of Search: 463/43
• US Class Current: 463/43
• 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 system for collecting player information, the system comprising:

a collector adapted to collect information relating to a plurality of frequent player accounts associated with a player wherein the plurality of frequent player accounts are player accounts related to a respective plurality of separate gaming establishments;

a database adapted to store the collected information; and

further comprising a component configured to execute a trading of frequent player points between a plurality of players.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a processor adapted to determine a rating of the player based on the information relating to the plurality of frequent player accounts associated with the player.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the collector further comprises a component that is adapted to log onto at least one of the plurality of frequent player accounts associated with the player to obtain the information.

4. The system according to claim 3, further comprising a component that permits the player to manage points associated with the at least one of the plurality of frequent player accounts associated with the player.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an interface adapted to display, to the player, the collected information relating to a plurality of frequent player accounts associated with the player.

6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a component configured to purchase, on behalf of the player, frequent player points from one of a plurality of frequent player programs.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a component configured to sell, on behalf of the player, frequent player points from one of a plurality of frequent player programs.

8. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a collector adapted to collect information relating to a plurality of loyalty accounts associated with a player.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a collector adapted to collect information relating to game play of the player.

10. A computer-implemented method for collecting player information, the system comprising acts of:

collecting, via a collector, information relating to a plurality of frequent player accounts associated with a player wherein the plurality of frequent player accounts are player accounts related to a respective plurality of separate gaming establishments;

storing, in a database, the collected information; and

further comprising an act of executing a trading of frequent player points between a plurality of players.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising an act of determining a rating of the player based on the information relating to the plurality of frequent player accounts associated with the player.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the act of collecting further comprises an act of logging onto at least one of the plurality of frequent player accounts associated with the player to obtain the information.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising an act of permitting the player to manage points associated with the at least one of the plurality of frequent player accounts associated with the player.

14. The method according to claim 10, further comprising an act of displaying, to the player, the collected information relating to a plurality of frequent player accounts associated with the player.

15. The method according to claim 10, further comprising an act of purchasing, on behalf of the player, frequent player points from one of a plurality of frequent player programs.

16. The method according to claim 10, further comprising an act of selling, on behalf of the player, frequent player points from one of a plurality of frequent player programs.

17. The method according to claim 10, further comprising an act of collecting information relating to a plurality of loyalty accounts associated with a player.

18. The method according to claim 10, further comprising an act of collecting information relating to game play of the player.

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

collecting information relating to a plurality of frequent player accounts associated with a player wherein the plurality of frequent player accounts are player accounts related to a respective plurality of separate gaming establishments;

storing, in a database, the collected information; and

further comprising an act of executing a trading of frequent player points between a plurality of players.

20. The computer readable medium according to claim 19, further comprising an act of determining a rating of the player based on the information relating to the plurality of frequent player accounts associated with the player.