Mobile applications and wagering game machines

• US 9,552,697 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2015
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Earley, Edward Q., Gagner, Mark B., Gura, Damon E., Louie, Daniel P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUFFY, DAVID W
• Application Number:
  US14/969,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20160163153A1
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games

Abstract

In some embodiments, a wagering game is presented at a wagering game machine. A wireless communication is established between the wagering game machine and a mobile device. In response to a wagering game player satisfying a wagering game criteria when playing the wagering game, access to content can be enabled on the mobile device, wherein the content is based on a context resulting from the wagering game player playing the wagering game.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing, by a mobile device, a wireless communication between the mobile device and a wagering game machine after the mobile device is within a wireless communication range of the wagering game machine, the wagering game machine configured to detect, via at least one of one or more electronic input devices, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance on the wagering game machine; and

receiving, by the mobile device, an authorization to access content on the mobile device, wherein the content is accessible on the mobile device while a wagering game is currently being played at the wagering game machine, the authorization in response to a wagering game criteria being satisfied after initiation of the wagering game and prior to receipt on the wagering game machine, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices, of a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance, wherein the authorization is based, at least in part, on a context of the wagering game.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the content comprises a mobile application, the method further comprising:

in response to receiving the authorization, downloading the mobile application to the mobile device for execution on the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the content comprises a mobile application, the mobile application configured to provide a notification of at least one of:

an availability of a wagering game on a different wagering game machine, awarding of a shared bonus, or a play-while-away activity.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the content comprises a mobile application, the mobile application configured to provide a tutorial for the wagering game or a history of game play on the wagering game machine.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the content includes a mobile application that is a mobile version of the wagering game that is executable on the wagering game machine.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein additional content is provided by the wagering game machine for use by the mobile application in accordance with a progression of play on the wagering game machine.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein a first award amount for meeting a criteria on the mobile version of the wagering game is more than a second award amount for meeting the same criteria on the wagering game that is executable on the wagering game machine.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the content comprises entries for wagering game activity at the wagering game machine, wherein the entries comprise one or more of an amount won or lost as a result of the wagering game activity, a date of the wagering game activity, and a serial number of the wagering game machine.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to reaching a level of play of the wagering game on the wagering game machine, presenting an option on the mobile device to enter a tournament game.

10. A mobile device comprising:

one or more processors;

a wireless communications interface; and

a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the mobile device to;

establish, via the wireless communications interface, a wireless communication between the mobile device and a wagering game machine after the mobile device is within a wireless communication range of the wagering game machine, the wagering game machine configured to detect, via at least one of one or more electronic input devices, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance on the wagering game machine; and

receive an authorization to access content on the mobile device, wherein the content is accessible on the mobile device while a wagering game is currently being played at the wagering game machine, the authorization in response to a wagering game criteria being satisfied after initiation of the wagering game and prior to receipt on the wagering game machine, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices, of a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance, wherein the authorization is based, at least in part, on a context of the wagering game.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the content comprises a mobile application, the mobile application configured to provide a notification of at least one of:

an availability of a wagering game on a different wagering game machine, awarding of a shared bonus, or a play-while-away activity.

12. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the content includes a mobile application that is a mobile version of the wagering game that is executable on the wagering game machine.

13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein additional content is provided for use by the mobile application in accordance with a progression of play on the wagering game machine.

14. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the instructions further include instructions, that when executed, cause the mobile device to:

present an option to enter a tournament game in response to reaching a level of play on the wagering game machine.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable medium including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause a mobile device to:

establish a first wireless communication between the mobile device and a first wagering game machine after the mobile device is within a wireless communication range of the first wagering game machine, the first wagering game machine configured to detect, via at least one of one or more electronic input devices, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance on the first wagering game machine; and

receive an authorization to access content on the mobile device, wherein the content is accessible on the mobile device while a wagering game is currently being played at the first wagering game machine, the authorization in response to a wagering game criteria being satisfied after initiation of the wagering game and prior to receipt on the first wagering game machine, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices, of a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance, wherein the authorization is based, at least in part, on a context of the wagering game.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the content comprises a mobile application, the mobile application configured to:

receive, via the first wireless communication, a first indication that a first task has been completed at the first wagering game machine;

establish a second wireless communication between the mobile device and a second wagering game machine after the mobile device is within a wireless communication range of the second wagering game machine;

receive, via the second wireless communication, a second indication that a second task has been completed at the second wagering game machine; and

in response to determining that the first task and the second task have been completed, provide an award.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the content comprises a mobile application, the mobile application configured to provide a limited version of the wagering game that is executable on the first wagering game machine prior to reaching an achievement level on the wagering game, and provide additional content in response to reaching the achievement level in the wagering game.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the content comprises a mobile application, the mobile application configured to provide a communication session with a second mobile device in wireless communication with a second wagering game machine.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the second wagering game machine is executing a same wagering game as the first wagering game machine.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the content comprises a mobile application, the mobile application configured to record entries for wagering game activity at the first wagering game machine, wherein the entries comprise one or more of an amount won or lost as a result of the wagering game activity, a date of the wagering game activity, and a serial number of the first wagering game machine.