Directional wireless communication

• US 9,375,644 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2013
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nelson, Dwayne R., LeMay, Steven G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu, Kang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Clarke, Jr., Robert T
• Application Number:
  US14/139,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20140113729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5375 for graphically or textually suggesting an action, e.g. by displaying an arrow indicating a turn in a driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A method for establishing communication between a portable electronic device and an electronic gaming machine within a gaming environment includes receiving wireless signal data transmitted from the portable electronic device, determining a wireless signal strength relative to the electronic gaming machine based on the wireless signal data, and based on a determination that the wireless signal strength relative to the electronic gaming machine has increased, exceeded a predetermined threshold level, and leveled off for an amount of time exceeding a time threshold after becoming stronger, initiating a wireless communication link between the electronic gaming machine and the portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A method for establishing communication between a portable electronic device and an electronic gaming machine within a gaming environment, the method comprising:

determining whether the electronic gaming machine is engaged in any active game play session;

receiving wireless signal data transmitted from the portable electronic device;

determining a wireless signal strength relative to the electronic gaming machine based on the wireless signal data; and

based on (i) a determination that the electronic gaming machine is not engaged in any active game play session; and

(ii) a determination that the wireless signal strength relative to the electronic gaming machine has increased, exceeded a predetermined threshold level, and leveled off for an amount of time exceeding a time threshold after becoming stronger, initiating a wireless communication link between the electronic gaming machine and the portable electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring the wireless signal strength relative to the electronic gaming machine subsequent to initiating the wireless communication link.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

terminating the wireless communication link when the wireless signal strength relative to the electronic gaming machine decreases below the predetermined threshold level.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining whether the wireless signal strength relative to the electronic gaming machine has leveled off to a non-zero strength after decreasing;

determining whether the gaming device is engaged in an active game play session; and

initiating a new wireless communication link between the electronic gaming machine and the portable electronic device in response to said determinations being positive.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

terminating the wireless communication link when the wireless signal strength relative to the electronic gaming machine has leveled off to a non-zero strength after decreasing and the electronic gaming device is not engaged in an active game play session.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

estimating a current position of the portable electronic device based on the wireless signal strength; and

estimating a future position of the portable electronic device based on the current position.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to initiating the wireless communication link, sending an attract feature to the portable electronic device, wherein the attract feature is related to the electronic gaming machine.

8. A server, comprising:

a memory;

a network interface configured to receive wireless signal data from a portable electronic device within a gaming environment; and

a processor configured to;

determine whether an electronic gaming machine is engaged in any active game play session;

receive wireless signal data transmitted from the portable electronic device;

determine a wireless signal strength relative to the electronic gaming machine based on the wireless signal data; and

based on (i) a determination that the electronic gaming machine is not engaged in any active game play session; and

(ii) a determination that the wireless signal strength relative to the electronic gaming machine has increased, exceeded a predetermined threshold level, and leveled off for an amount of time exceeding a time threshold after becoming stronger, initiate a wireless communication link between the electronic gaming machine and the portable electronic device.

9. The server of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to:

monitor the wireless signal strength relative to the electronic gaming machine subsequent to initiating the wireless communication link.

10. The server of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

terminate the wireless communication link when the wireless signal strength relative to the electronic gaming machine decreases below the predetermined threshold level.

11. The server of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine whether the wireless signal strength relative to the electronic gaming machine has leveled off to a non-zero strength after decreasing;

determine whether the gaming device is engaged in an active game play session; and

initiate a new wireless communication link between the electronic gaming machine and the portable electronic device in response to said determinations being positive.

12. The server of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

terminate the wireless communication link when the wireless signal strength relative to the electronic gaming machine has leveled off to a non-zero strength after decreasing and the electronic gaming device is not engaged in an active game play session.

13. The server of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to:

estimate a current position of the portable electronic device based on the wireless signal strength; and

estimate a future position of the portable electronic device based on the current position.

14. The server of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to:

prior to initiating the wireless communication link, send an attract feature to the portable electronic device, wherein the attract feature is related to the electronic gaming machine.