Method and apparatus for authenticating data relating to participation in an electronic game

• US 9,679,439 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2014
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Friesen, Scott T., Downs, Michael D., Santisi, Steven M., Walker, Jay S., Jorasch, James A., Sammon, Russell P.
• Primary Examiner(s): PIERCE, DAMON JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US14/287,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20140309018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• 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 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for managing and authenticating usage of features of gaming devices are presented. In accordance with some embodiments, the methods and apparatus may facilitate an offer engine for providing one or more offers to a user of the gaming device, wherein an offer comprises an offer for a payment to be made to the user in exchange for an action by the user, wherein the one or more offers are distinct from indications of awards the user may qualify for during play of a game playable via the gaming device. In one embodiment the methods and apparatus may provide for determining whether to adjust the first feature based on the measure of performance.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising a server device in communication with at least one gaming device, comprising:

a processor;

a memory storing a program for directing the processor, the processor being operable with the program to;

enable a feature for use on the at least one gaming device, the feature comprising an offer engine for providing one or more offers to a user of the at least one gaming device, wherein an offer of the one or more offers comprises an offer for a payment to be made to the user in exchange for an action by the user, wherein the one or more offers are distinct from indications of awards the user may qualify for during play of a game playable via the at least one gaming device, thereby determining an enabled feature;

calculate a value indicating a measure of performance of the at least one gaming device,

wherein the measure of performance corresponds to a measure of use of the at least one gaming device while the feature is enabled;

generate, based on the measure of performance, an instruction to adjust the feature based on the measure of performance, thereby determining whether to modify at least one of (i) at least one type of offer to be provided to the user, (ii) the particular one of the one or more offers to be provided to the user, and (iii) a status of the feature;

modify a user interface of the at least one gaming device so as to indicate the adjustment of the feature;

generate an authentication code, the authentication code indicating the measure of use of the at least one gaming device while the feature is enabled for use on the at least one gaming device, thereby authenticating use of the at least one gaming device; and

transmit the authentication code to an interested party associated with the one or more offers.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operable with the program to activate the enabled feature for use on the at least one gaming device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enabled feature comprises a plurality of inactive features available for selection by the user and wherein the processor is further operable with the program to receive an input from the user and, in response to the input, activate a first inactive feature from the plurality of inactive features.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor being operable with the program to determine the measure of performance comprises the processor being operable with the program to determine revenue generated while the feature is utilized.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor being operable with the program to determine the measure of performance comprises the processor being operable with the program to determine an average rate of play by the user while the feature is utilized.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor being operable with the program to determine the measure of performance comprises the processor being operable with the program to determine a number of customer service complaints related to the feature.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor being operable with the program to determine the measure of performance comprises the processor being operable with the program to determine an average duration of game play by the user while the feature is utilized.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor being operable with the program to determine the measure of performance comprises the processor being operable with the program to determine a number of gaming devices on which the feature is activated.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor being operable with the program to determine the measure of performance comprises the processor being operable with the program to determine a percentage of gaming devices on which the feature is activated.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor being operable with the program to determine the measure of performance comprises the processor being operable with the program to determine a number of times that the enabled feature is used by the user.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor being operable with the program to determine the measure of performance comprises the processor being operable with the program to determine information about the user.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor being operable with the program to determine the measure of performance comprises the processor being operable with the program to determine an amount of time the enabled feature is in use.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor being operable with the program to determine the measure of performance comprises the processor being operable with the program to determine a type of the at least one gaming device on which the enabled feature is used.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor being operable with the program to determine the measure of performance comprises the processor being operable with the program to determine a profit resulting from use of the enabled feature.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor being operable with the program to determine the measure of performance comprises the processor being operable with the program to determine a rate of play by the user while the enabled feature is in use.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor being operable with the program to determine the measure of performance comprises the processor being operable with the program to determine a number of offers accepted by a user while the enabled feature is in use.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor being operable with the program to determine the measure of performance comprises the processor being operable with the program to determine a number of offers rejected by the user while the enabled feature is in use.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operable with the program to disable the feature based on the measure of performance.

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

enable a feature for use on at least one gaming device, the feature comprising an offer engine for providing one or more offers to a user of the at least one gaming device, wherein an offer of the one or more offers comprises an offer for a payment to be made to the user in exchange for an action by the user, wherein the one or more offers are distinct from indications of awards the user may qualify for during play of a game playable via the at least one gaming device, thereby determining an enabled feature;

calculate a value indicating a measure of performance of the at least one gaming device,

wherein the measure of performance corresponds to a measure of use of the at least one gaming device while the feature is enabled;

generate, based on the measure of performance, an instruction to adjust the feature based on the measure of performance, thereby determining whether to modify at least one of (i) at least one type of offer to be provided to the user, (ii) the particular one of the one or more offers to be provided to the user, and (iii) a status of the feature;

modify a user interface of the at least one gaming device so as to indicate the adjustment of the feature;

generate an authentication code, the authentication code indicating the measure of use of the at least one gaming device while the feature is enabled for use on the at least one gaming device, thereby authenticating use of the at least one gaming device; and

transmit the authentication code to an interested party associated with the one or more offers.