Processing of a user device game-playing transaction based on location

• US 9,824,530 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2017
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e2Interactive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Linq3 Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Cage, Daniel, Leach, Roy, Tashjian, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US15/614,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20170270745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 169 Days
• Field of Search: 463 25, 463 29
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• 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 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

An exemplary method comprises receiving information associated with a game-playing transaction conducted between a user device and a game-playing terminal, wherein the game-playing transaction is associated with a request for playing a game; determining a location of the user device associated with the game; determining the user device is located in an approved location associated with the game; and processing the game-playing transaction based on determining the user device is located in the approved location associated with the game. The game-playing transaction is conducted on a first communication interface, and the information associated with the game-playing transaction is received on a first or second communication interface.

Claims

1. A method for processing, or enabling initiation or conduction of, game-playing transactions, the method comprising:

receiving or sending information associated with a game-playing transaction between a user device and a game-playing apparatus, wherein the game-playing transaction is associated with a game;

determining, using one or more computing device processors, a location of the user device or the game-playing apparatus associated with the game-playing transaction;

determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the user device or the game-playing apparatus is located in an approved location associated with the game;

processing the game-playing transaction, or enabling initiation or conduction of the game-playing transaction, based on at least one of;

determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the user device or the game-playing apparatus is located in the approved location associated with the game based on cross-referencing second information or identification information, and determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the location matches the second information or the identification information, or

determining, using the one or more computing device processors, a period of validity associated with the information has not expired,

wherein the game-playing transaction is conducted on a first communication interface, and

wherein the information associated with the game-playing transaction is received or sent on the first communication interface or a second communication interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location comprises or is determined based on:

global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the user device or the game-playing apparatus, or

location information or second identification information of the user device or the game-playing apparatus.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device or the game-playing apparatus comprises or is integrated with at least one of a pump, an ATM, a servicing station, a retail station, an entity, a local computing apparatus, or a remote computing apparatus.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device comprises a mobile computing device configured for game-playing transactions or a mobile telecommunication device configured for game-playing transactions.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the one or more computing device processors are comprised in at least one of the user device, the game-playing apparatus, one or more local computing apparatuses, or one or more remote computing apparatuses.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the game comprises a lottery game.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the game comprises a non-lottery game.

8. A method for processing, or enabling initiation or conduction of, game-playing transactions, the method comprising:

receiving or sending information associated with a game-playing transaction between a user device and a game-playing apparatus, wherein the game-playing transaction is associated with a game, wherein the game is associated with or comprises game information;

determining, using one or more computing device processors, a location of the user device or the game-playing apparatus associated with the game-playing transaction;

determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the user device or the game-playing apparatus is located in an approved location associated with the game;

processing the game-playing transaction, or enabling initiation or conduction of the game-playing transaction, based on at least one of;

determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the user device or the game-playing apparatus is located in the approved location associated with the game based on cross-referencing second information or identification information, and determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the location at least partially corresponds with the second information or the identification information;

or

determining, using the one or more computing device processors, a period of validity associated with the information or the game information has not expired,

wherein the game-playing transaction is conducted or is to be conducted on a first communication interface, and

wherein the information associated with the game-playing transaction is received or sent on the first communication interface or a second communication interface.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the identification information comprises merchant information.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the location comprises or is determined based on:

global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the user device or the game-playing apparatus, or

location information or second identification information of the user device or the game-playing apparatus.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the user device comprises a mobile computing device configured for game-playing transactions or a mobile telecommunication device configured for game-playing transactions.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the information associated with the game-playing transaction comprises at least one of game-playing request information, pre game-playing transaction information, post game-playing transaction information, in-game information, the game information, user information, location information, user device identification information, game-related information, or game-playing apparatus identification information, or wherein the game-playing transaction comprises at least one of a gaming transaction, a game initiation transaction, a pre-game transaction, a post-game transaction, an in-game transaction, a game-related transaction, a location determining transaction, a user device identifying transaction, or a game-playing apparatus identifying transaction.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the user device comprises a mobile device configured for game-playing transactions, and wherein the game-playing apparatus comprises a remote computing apparatus.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the information associated with the game-playing transaction is received or sent on the first communication interface.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the user device comprises a non-mobile device configured for game-playing transactions, and wherein the game-playing apparatus comprises a remote computing apparatus.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the user device comprises a fuel pump, and wherein the game-playing apparatus comprises a remote computing apparatus.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein the user device comprises a mobile device configured for game-playing transactions, and wherein the game-playing apparatus comprises a local computing apparatus.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the information associated with the game-playing transaction is received or sent on the first communication interface.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the information associated with the game-playing transaction is received or sent on the second communication interface.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the second communication interface is located between the user device and the game-playing apparatus.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the second communication interface is located between the game-playing apparatus and a remote computing apparatus.

22. The method of claim 8, wherein the first communication interface is located between the user device and the game-playing apparatus.

23. The method of claim 8, wherein the second communication interface is located at least one of between the user device and the game-playing apparatus, or between the game-playing apparatus and a remote computing apparatus.

24. The method of claim 8, wherein the game-playing apparatus comprises a gaming facilitator.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the gaming facilitator comprises a firewall, logging security, core logic, and transaction logic.

26. The method of claim 8, wherein the game-playing apparatus comprises a communications exchange server.

27. The method of claim 8, wherein the game comprises a lottery game.

28. The method of claim 8, wherein the game comprises a non-lottery game.

29. The method of claim 8, wherein the game information comprises expiration information.

30. The method of claim 8, wherein determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the location corresponds with the second information or the identification information comprises determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the location matches the second information or the identification information.

31. The method of claim 8, wherein determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the user device or the game-playing apparatus is located in the approved location associated with the game based on cross-referencing the second information or the identification information, or determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the period of validity associated with the information or the game information has not expired, comprises:

determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the user device or the game-playing apparatus is located in the approved location associated with the game based on cross-referencing the second information or the identification information.

32. The method of claim 8, wherein determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the user device or the game-playing apparatus is located in the approved location associated with the game based on cross-referencing the second information or the identification information, or determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the period of validity associated with the information or the game information has not expired, comprises:

determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the period of validity associated with the information or the game information has not expired.

33. The method of claim 8, wherein the receiving or sending information is executed before the game-playing transaction between the user device and the game-playing apparatus.

34. The method of claim 8, wherein the receiving or sending information is executed after the game-playing transaction between the user device and the game-playing apparatus.

35. The method of claim 8, wherein the receiving or sending information is part of the game-playing transaction or executed substantially simultaneously with the game-playing transaction between the user device and the game-playing apparatus.

36. The method of claim 8, wherein the first communication interface comprises at least one of a Bluetooth interface, a near-field communication (NFC) interface, a code-based interface, a Wi-Fi interface, a cellular interface, or a wired interface.

37. The method of claim 8, wherein the first communication interface and the second communication interface are the same communication interface.

38. The method of claim 8, wherein the user device comprises a non-electronic user device or wherein the game-playing apparatus comprises a non-electronic game-playing apparatus.

39. The method of claim 8, wherein the user device or the game-playing apparatus comprises or is integrated with at least one of a pump, an ATM, a servicing station, a retail station, an entity, a local computing apparatus, or a remote computing apparatus.

40. The method of claim 8, wherein the user device comprises a local computing apparatus and a remote computing apparatus.

41. The method of claim 8, wherein the game-playing apparatus comprises a local computing apparatus and a remote computing apparatus.

42. The method of claim 8, wherein the receiving or sending information comprises receiving or sending the information between a second user device and the game-playing apparatus.

43. The method of claim 8, wherein the location of the user device or the game-playing apparatus comprises second identification information associated with the user device or the game-playing apparatus.

44. The method of claim 8, wherein the user device comprises a mobile computing device configured for game-playing transactions or a mobile telecommunication device configured for game-playing transactions.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the one or more computing device processors are comprised in at least one of the user device, the game-playing apparatus, one or more local computing apparatuses, or one or more remote computing apparatuses.

46. The method of claim 8, wherein the game comprises a lottery game.

47. The method of claim 8, wherein the game comprises a non-lottery game.

48. An apparatus for processing, or enabling initiation or conduction of, game-playing transactions, the apparatus comprising one or more computing device processors configured for:

receiving or sending information associated with a game-playing transaction between a user device and a game-playing apparatus, wherein the game-playing transaction is associated with a game, wherein the game is associated with or comprises game information;

determining a location of the user device or the game-playing apparatus associated with the game-playing transaction;

determining the user device or the game-playing apparatus is located in an approved location associated with the game;

modifying or configuring the user device or the game-playing apparatus based on the user device or the game-playing apparatus being located in the approved location associated with the game;

processing the game-playing transaction, or enabling initiation or conduction of the game-playing transaction, based on at least one of;

determining the user device or the game-playing apparatus is located in the approved location associated with the game based on cross-referencing second information or identification information, or

determining a period of validity associated with the information or the game information has not expired,

wherein the game-playing transaction is conducted or is to be conducted on a first communication interface, and

wherein the information associated with the game-playing transaction is received or sent on the first communication interface or a second communication interface.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein modifying or configuring the user device or the game-playing apparatus comprises modifying or configuring a user interface of the user device or the game-playing apparatus, the user device and the game-playing apparatus being configured for game-playing transactions.

50. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein modifying or configuring the user device or the game-playing apparatus comprises modifying or configuring a software component of the user device or the game-playing apparatus, the user device and the game-playing apparatus being configured for game-playing transactions.

51. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the location of the user device or the game-playing apparatus comprises second identification information associated with the user device or the game-playing apparatus.

52. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the user device or the game-playing apparatus comprises or is comprised in at least one of a pump, an ATM, a servicing station, a retail station, an entity, a local computing apparatus, a remote computing apparatus, or the apparatus.

53. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the apparatus is integrated with or is comprised in at least one of a pump, an ATM, a servicing station, a retail station, a local computing apparatus, a remote computing apparatus, a user device, or the game-playing apparatus.

54. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the apparatus comprises or is comprised in a software-customized gaming facilitator or communications exchange server.

55. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the apparatus is integrated with a fuel pump.

56. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the game comprises a lottery game.

57. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the game comprises a non-lottery game.

58. A method for processing information associated with, or enabling initiation or conduction of, game-playing transactions, the method comprising:

receiving, from a user device, or sending, to the user device, information associated with a game-playing transaction between a mobile device configured for game-playing transactions and a game-playing apparatus, wherein the game-playing transaction is associated with a game;

determining, using one or more computing device processors, identification information of the user device or the game-playing apparatus;

determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the user device is an approved user device or the game-playing apparatus is an approved game-playing apparatus, the approved user device or the approved game-playing apparatus being associated with an approved location associated with the game;

processing the information, or enabling initiation or conduction of the game-playing transaction, based on at least one of;

determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the user device or the game-playing apparatus is associated with the approved location associated with the game based on cross-referencing second identification information, and determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the identification information at least partially matches the second identification information, or

determining, using the one or more computing device processors, a period of validity associated with the game-playing transaction has not expired,

wherein the information associated with the game-playing transaction is received or sent on a first communication interface, and

wherein the game-playing transaction is conducted on a second communication interface.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the user device or the game-playing apparatus comprises or is associated with at least one of a pump, an ATM, a servicing station, a retail station, an entity, a local computing apparatus, or a remote computing apparatus.

60. The method of claim 58, wherein the game-playing apparatus comprises one or more local or remote game-playing apparatuses.

61. The method of claim 58, wherein determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the user device or the game-playing apparatus is associated with the approved location associated with the game based on cross-referencing the second identification information, and determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the identification information at least partially matches the second identification information, or determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the period of validity associated with the game-playing transaction has not expired, comprises:

determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the user device or the game-playing apparatus is associated with the approved location associated with the game based on cross-referencing the second identification information, and determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the identification information at least partially matches the second identification information.

62. The method of claim 58, wherein determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the user device or the game-playing apparatus is associated with the approved location associated with the game based on cross-referencing the second identification information, and determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the identification information at least partially matches the second identification information, or determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the period of validity associated with the game-playing transaction has not expired, comprises:

determining, using the one or more computing device processors, the period of validity associated with the game-playing transaction has not expired.

63. The method of claim 58, wherein the receiving or sending the information is executed before, after, or as a part of the game-playing transaction.

64. The method of claim 58, wherein the one or more computing device processors are comprised in at least one of the user device, the game-playing apparatus, the mobile device, one or more entities, one or more local computing apparatuses, or one or more remote computing apparatuses.

65. The method of claim 58, wherein the first communication interface is located between the user device and the game-playing apparatus, and the second communication interface is located between the mobile device and the game-playing apparatus.

66. The method of claim 58, wherein the game comprises a lottery game.

67. The method of claim 58, wherein the game comprises a non-lottery game.