Opt-in proximity alert
First Claim
1. A method for a handheld device to automatically locate wagering game machines that match player preferences, the method comprising:
- receiving, by the handheld device via a player input device, a player preference;
broadcasting, by the handheld device over a wireless network to wagering game machines in proximity to the handheld device, wireless communications indicating the player preference;
receiving, by each wagering game machine in proximity to the handheld device, the wireless communications;
for each wagering game machine that receives the wireless communications,determining if the player preference matches any characteristic of the wagering game machine;
upon determining the player preference matches any characteristic of the wagering game machine,transmitting, to the handheld device over the wireless network,information describing the wagering game machine, and information indicating a location of the wagering game machine relative to the handheld device;
detecting, via one or more electronic input devices of one of the wagering game machines, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance;
initiating, by the one of the wagering game machines, a casino wagering game in response to an input indicative of a wager covered by the credit balance;
receiving, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices, a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for alerting a player about a wagering game machine is described herein. In some embodiments, the method can include receiving, via a communications network from a handheld computing device, player preferences for an opt-in proximity alert. The method can further include creating the opt-in proximity alert based, at least in part, on the player preferences. The method can further include determining, via one or more processors, that the handheld computing device is in proximity to a wagering game machine matching the player preferences. The method can further include causing the handheld computing device to present an alert about the wagering game machine matching the player preferences.
41 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for a handheld device to automatically locate wagering game machines that match player preferences, the method comprising:
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receiving, by the handheld device via a player input device, a player preference; broadcasting, by the handheld device over a wireless network to wagering game machines in proximity to the handheld device, wireless communications indicating the player preference; receiving, by each wagering game machine in proximity to the handheld device, the wireless communications; for each wagering game machine that receives the wireless communications, determining if the player preference matches any characteristic of the wagering game machine; upon determining the player preference matches any characteristic of the wagering game machine, transmitting, to the handheld device over the wireless network, information describing the wagering game machine, and information indicating a location of the wagering game machine relative to the handheld device; detecting, via one or more electronic input devices of one of the wagering game machines, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance; initiating, by the one of the wagering game machines, a casino wagering game in response to an input indicative of a wager covered by the credit balance; receiving, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices, a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions to automatically locate wagering game machines that match player preferences, the instructions executable by one or more processors, the instructions comprising:
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instructions to receive, by a handheld device via a player input device, a player preference; instructions to broadcast, by the handheld device over a wireless network to wagering game machines in proximity to the handheld device, wireless communications indicating the player preference; instructions to receive, by each wagering game machine in proximity to the handheld device, the wireless communications; for each wagering game machine that receives the wireless communications, instructions to determine if the player preference matches any characteristic of the wagering game machine; instructions to upon determination that the player preference matches any characteristic of the wagering game machine, transmit, to the handheld device over the wireless network, information describing the wagering game machine, and information indicating a location of the wagering game machine relative to the handheld device; instructions to detect, via one or more electronic input devices of one of the wagering game machines, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance; instructions to initiate, by the one of the wagering game machines, a casino wagering game in response to an input indicative of a wager covered by the credit balance; instructions to receive, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices, a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus comprising:
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one or more processors; one or more non-transitory computer readable mediums including instructions to automatically locate wagering game machines that match player preferences, the instructions executable by the one or more processors, the instructions comprising; instructions to receive, by a handheld device via a player input device, a player preference; instructions to broadcast, by the handheld device over a wireless network to wagering game machines in proximity to the handheld device, wireless communications indicating the player preference; instructions to receive, by each wagering game machine in proximity to the handheld device, the wireless communications; for each wagering game machine that receives the wireless communications, instructions to determine if the player preference matches any characteristic of the wagering game machine; instructions to upon determination that the player preference matches any characteristic of the wagering game machine, transmit, to the handheld device over the wireless network, information describing the wagering game machine, and information indicating a location of the wagering game machine relative to the handheld device; instructions to detect, via one or more electronic input devices of one of the wagering game machines, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance; instructions to initiate, by the one of the wagering game machines, a casino wagering game in response to an input indicative of a wager covered by the credit balance; instructions to receive, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices, a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification