Gaming system with location determination

• US 9,355,518 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interactive Games LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: Interactive Games LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Inventors: Lutnick, Howard W., Amaitis, Lee M., Asher, Joseph M., Bahrampour, Robert E., MYLET, DARRIN M., WILKINS, ALAN B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Torimiro, Adetokunbo O
• Application Number:
  US13/616,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20130012324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/29, 463/40, 463/41, 463/42, 705/64, 705/67, 715/753
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/086 played via telephone, e.g. using a modem
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

A gaming system is provided. The gaming system allows users to access applications via gaming communication devices coupled to a communication network. At least a portion of the network may be wireless. The gaming applications include gambling, financial, entertainment service, and other types of transactions. The system may include a user location determination feature to prevent users from conducting transactions from unauthorized areas. The gaming system may incorporate a user profile feature according to which certain information regarding users of the system may be maintained. Such information can include, without limitation, information relating to preferences, finances, activities participated in by the users, and trends and habits of the users.

Claims

1. A method for supporting multiple users in an electronic gaming system, the method comprising:

establishing for a user of the electronic gaming system a user profile on a data storage device, wherein the user accesses the electronic gaming system via an electronic device;

receiving by at least one processor via a communications network from the electronic device location data of the electronic device, wherein;

the electronic device comprises sensor for detecting location,

the electronic device obtains the location data from the sensor, and

the electronic device communicates the location data via the communications network;

recognizing by the at least one processor an occurrence of an event;

updating by the at least one processor the user profile in response to the event,

wherein recognizing the occurrence of the event comprises determining, based on the location data, an existence of the user in a particular location, and

wherein updating the user profile in response to the event comprises storing the particular location; and

based on determining the existence of the user in the particular location, initiating by the at least one processor a gaming session, wherein initiating the gaming session includes communicating via the communications network information to the electronic device, wherein the information causes the electronic device to present via a display of the electronic device a gaming environment to the user or to present via the display to the user a modified gaming environment that indicates to the user a last gaming activity of a plurality of gaming activities accessed by the user during a prior gaming session, a determination as to whether to display the gaming environment or the modified gaming environment being based on whether there is or is not a stored indication of a last one of the plurality gaming activities accessed by the user during the prior gaming session.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic gaming system enables users to at least one of:

wager on games and/or events, and

engage in non-wagering games and/or events;

engage in gaming activities from electronic devices.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing for the particular location at least one of a date and a time of day when the user is at the particular location.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an existence of the user in a plurality of locations in response to recognizing an occurrence of a plurality of respective events, and

updating the user profile to include the plurality of locations.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

storing for the respective plurality of locations at least one of a date and a time of day when the user is at the respective location.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the plurality of locations are all within at least one of:

a given state, and

a given casino property.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the user profile includes transferring information from a hotel system to the electronic gaming system, wherein the information transferred from the hotel system is collected upon the user checking into the hotel.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein recognizing the occurrence of an event comprises recognizing an occurrence of a particular time of day.

9. An apparatus for supporting multiple users in electronic gaming, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory electronically coupled to the at least processor and having software stored thereon that when executed by the at least one processor directs the at least one processor to;

establish for a user of the apparatus a user profile on a data storage device, wherein the user accesses the apparatus via an electronic device;

receive via a communications network from the electronic device location data of the electronic device, wherein;

the electronic device comprises sensor for detecting location,

the electronic device obtains the location data from the sensor, and

the electronic device communicates the location data via the communications network;

recognize an occurrence of an event;

update the user profile in response to the event;

wherein to recognize the occurrence of the event comprises to determine, based on the location data, an existence of the user in a particular location, and

wherein to update the user profile in response to the event comprises to store the particular location; and

based on determining the existence of the user in the particular location, initiate a gaming session, wherein to initiate the gaming session includes to communicate via the communications network information to the electronic device, wherein the information causes the electronic device to present via a display of the electronic device a gaming environment to the user or to present via the display to the user a modified gaming environment that indicates to the user a last gaming activity of a plurality of gaming activities accessed by the user during a prior gaming session, a determination as to whether to display the gaming environment or the modified gaming environment being based on whether there is or is not a stored indication of a last one of the plurality gaming activities accessed by the user during the prior gaming session.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the electronic gaming system enables users to at least one of:

wager on games and/or events, and

engage in non-wagering games and/or events;

engage in gaming activities from electronic devices.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the software, when executed by the at least one processor, further directs the at least one processor to:

store for the particular location at least one of a date and a time of day when the user is at the particular location.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the software, when executed by the at least one processor, further directs the at least one processor to:

determine an existence of the user in a plurality of locations in response to recognizing an occurrence of a plurality of respective events, and

update the user profile to include the plurality of locations.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the software, when executed by the at least one processor, further directs the at least one processor to:

store for the respective plurality of locations at least one of a date and a time of day when the user is at the respective location.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the plurality of locations are all within at least one of:

a given state, and

a given casino property.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein to establish the user profile includes to transfer information from a hotel system to the electronic gaming system, wherein the information transferred from the hotel system is collected upon the user checking into the hotel.

16. A method for supporting multiple users in an electronic gaming system, the method comprising:

establishing profile for a user of the electronic gaming system, wherein the user accesses the electronic gaming system via an electronic device;

determining by at least one processor that the user is located within a particular location in which the user is permitted to engage in gaming activities provided by the electronic gaming system, wherein the determining comprises;

receiving via a communications network an identifier that indicates a network, a portion of a network, or a network component the electronic device is connected to in order to communicate with the electronic gaming system, and wherein the identifier is mapped via a database to a geographic area, and a determination is made that the geographic area is within the particular location in which the user is permitted to engage in gaming activities;

storing by at least one processor in the profile of the user at least one of a date and a time of day when the user is at the particular location; and

based on determining that the user is located in the particular location, initiating by the at least one processor a gaming session, wherein initiating the gaming session includes communicating via the communications network information to the electronic device, wherein the information causes the electronic device to present via a display of the electronic device a gaming environment to the user or to present via the display to the user a modified gaming environment that indicates to the user a last one of the gaming activities accessed by the user during a prior gaming session, a determination as to whether to display the gaming environment or the modified gaming environment being based on whether there is or is not a stored indication of a last one of the gaming activities accessed by the user during the prior gaming session.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the electronic gaming system enables users to at least one of:

wager on games and/or events, and

engage in non-wagering games and/or events;

engage in gaming activities from electronic devices.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

determining that the user has selected, at a plurality of times, one or more gaming activities provided by the electronic gaming system;

in response to determining that the user has selected, at a plurality of times, one or more gaming activities, determining a respective location of the user for each selection; and

storing in the profile of the user the determined locations.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of locations are all within a given jurisdiction.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of locations are all within at least one of:

a given state, and

a given casino property.

21. An apparatus for supporting multiple users in electronic gaming, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory electronically coupled to the at least processor and having software stored thereon that when executed by the at least one processor directs the at least one processor to;

establish a profile for a user of the apparatus, wherein the user accesses the apparatus via an electronic device;

determine that the user is located within a particular location in which the user is permitted to engage in gaming activities provided by the electronic gaming system wherein the determining comprises to;

receive via a communications network an identifier that indicates a network, a portion of a network, or a network component the electronic device is connected to in order to communicate with the apparatus, and wherein the identifier is mapped via a database to a geographic area, and a determination is made that the geographic area is within the particular location in which the user is permitted to engage in gaming activities;

store in the profile of the user at least one of a date and a time of day when the user is at the particular location; and

based on determining that the user is located in the particular location, initiate a gaming session, wherein to initiate the gaming session includes to communicate via the communications network information to the electronic device, wherein the information causes the electronic device to present via a display of the electronic device a gaming environment to the user or to present via the display to the user a modified gaming environment that indicates to the user a last one of the gaming activities accessed by the user during a prior gaming session, a determination as to whether to display the gaming environment or the modified gaming environment being based on whether there is or is not a stored indication of a last one of the gaming activities accessed by the user during the prior gaming session.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the electronic gaming system enables users to at least one of:

wager on games and/or events, and

engage in non-wagering games and/or events;

engage in gaming activities from electronic mobile devices.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the software, when executed by the at least one processor, further directs the at least one processor to:

determine that the user has selected, at a plurality of times, one or more gaming activities provided by the gaming system;

in response to determining that the user has selected, at a plurality of times, one or more gaming activities, determine a respective location of the user for each selection; and

store in the profile of the user the determined locations.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the plurality of locations are all within a given jurisdiction.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the plurality of locations are all within at least one of:

a given state, and

a given casino property.