Method and apparatus for managing hotel transactions from a gaming device

• US 8,480,486 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2008
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Friesen, Scott T., Walker, Jay S., Jorasch, James A., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Tedesco, Daniel E., Downs, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEODHAR, OMKAR A
• Application Number:
  US12/237,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20090011836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,749 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42, 463/16, 463/20, 463/25, 463/29
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• 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 customer may be permitted to use a gaming device such as a slot machine to manage various transactions related to a hotel, such as checking in and/or checking out of the customer'"'"'s room at the hotel. A customer may receive a benefit in exchange for using a gaming device for a transaction.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a player identifier at a gaming device, the player identifier being associated with a player;

accessing a schedule associated with the player identifier;

retrieving information related to at least one scheduled non-gaming event on said schedule; and

without receiving a request from the player, automatically providing the player an offer associated with a period of time on said schedule for which no event is scheduled.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one scheduled non-gaming event comprises a dining event.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising communicating to the player at least one of a recommendation and an offer related to the at least one scheduled non-gaming event.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising retrieving, from a database, information related to at least one of:

(a) a restaurant, and (b) one of one or more offers.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving information related to the at least one scheduled non-gaming event via the gaming device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the received information comprises a request from the player.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the request comprises a request for at least one of a suggestion for a dining locale, a number of people in a party including the player, and an estimated amount to be spent.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the request comprises a request for a suggestion of an activity to take place during a period of time when the at least one scheduled non-gaming event is not scheduled to take place.

9. The method of claim 1 which includes automatically communicating, without assistance of a person, a reminder of the at least one scheduled non-gaming event to the player at the gaming device.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein automatically communicating the reminder of the at least one scheduled non-gaming event to the player at the gaming device includes causing a printer of the gaming device to print the reminder of the at least one scheduled non-gaming event.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein automatically communicating the reminder of the at least one scheduled non-gaming event to the player at the gaming device includes automatically communicating the reminder of the at least one scheduled non-gaming event via a telephone distinct from the gaming device.

10. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one input device; and

at least one memory device storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device to;

receive a player identifier at a gaming device, the player identifier being associated with a player;

access a schedule associated with the player identifier;

retrieve information related to at least one scheduled non-gaming event on said schedule; and

without receiving a request from the player, automatically provide the player an offer associated with a period of time on said schedule for which no event is scheduled.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to automatically communicate, without assistance of a person, a reminder of the at least one scheduled non-gaming event to the player at the gaming device.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive a player identifier at a gaming device, the player identifier being associated with a player;

access a schedule associated with the player identifier;

retrieve information related to at least one scheduled non-gaming event on said schedule; and

without receiving a request from the player, automatically provide the player an offer associated with a period of time on said schedule for which no event is scheduled.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to automatically communicate, without assistance of a person, a reminder of the at least one scheduled non-gaming event to the player at the gaming device.