Gaming system, gaming device and method for utilizing mobile devices at a gaming establishment

• US 9,824,536 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2016
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Shorrock, Michael, Baerlocher, Anthony J., Nicely, Mark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): HALL, SHAUNA-KAY N
• Application Number:
  US15/354,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20170069165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 463 25
• 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 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• 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 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A gaming system which facilitates the two-way communication between mobile devices, such as mobile phones, and different gaming system components to enhance a player'"'"'s gaming experience.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to;

in addition to causing the at least one display device to display any play of a wagering game, cause the at least one display device to display at least one event in a service window, said at least one displayed event associated with at least one controller determination, and

after causing the at least one display device to display the at least one event in the service window, cause data associated with the at least one displayed event to be communicated to a mobile device which stores the data associated with the at least one displayed event.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the data associated with the at least one displayed event includes data selected from the group consisting of:

data associated with a player tracking system, data associated with an anonymous player, data associated with a gaming establishment reservation system, data associated with at least one tournament, data associated with at least one player preference, data associated with at least one virtual good, data associated with at least one bonus game, and data associated with content available for a player to access.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to receive the stored data from the mobile device upon an occurrence of a mobile device information request.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to cause the mobile device to display the service window.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a mobile phone.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, which includes an acceptor, and a cashout device, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to:

responsive to a physical item being received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, and responsive to a cashout input being received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.

7. A method of operating a gaming system, the method comprising:

in addition to any display, via at least one display device, of any play of any wagering game, causing a display, via the at least one display device, of at least one event in a service window, said at least one displayed event associated with at least one controller determination, and

after causing the display of the at least one event in the service window, causing, by at least one processor, data associated with the at least one displayed event to be communicated to a mobile device which stores the data associated with the at least one displayed event.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the data associated with the at least one displayed event includes data selected from the group consisting of:

data associated with a player tracking system, data associated with an anonymous player, data associated with a gaming establishment reservation system, data associated with at least one tournament, data associated with at least one player preference, data associated with at least one virtual good, data associated with at least one bonus game, and data associated with content available for a player to access.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving the stored data from the mobile device upon an occurrence of a mobile device information request.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising causing the mobile device to display the service window.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the mobile device is a mobile phone.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein a credit balance is increasable based on any awards associated with any plays of any wagering games displayed via the at least one display device, said credit balance being increasable via an acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetary value, and said credit balance being decreasable via a cashout device.

13. The method of claim 7, which is provided through a data network.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the data network is an internet.

15. A gaming system server comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to;

in addition to any play of a wagering game displayed via at least one display device, cause the at least one display device to display at least one event in a service window of the at least one display device, said at least one displayed event associated with at least one controller determination, and

after displaying the at least one event in the service window of the at least one display device, cause data associated with the at least one displayed event to be communicated to a mobile device which stores the data associated with the at least one displayed event.

16. The gaming system server of claim 15, wherein the data associated with the at least one displayed event includes data selected from the group consisting of:

data associated with a player tracking system, data associated with an anonymous player, data associated with a gaming establishment reservation system, data associated with at least one tournament, data associated with at least one player preference, data associated with at least one virtual good, data associated with at least one bonus game, and data associated with content available for a player to access.

17. The gaming system server of claim 15, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to receive the stored data from the mobile device upon an occurrence of a mobile device information request.

18. The gaming system server of claim 15, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to cause the mobile device to display the service window.

19. The gaming system server of claim 15, wherein the mobile device is a mobile phone.

20. The gaming system server of claim 15, wherein a credit balance is increasable based on any awards associated with any plays of any wagering games displayed via the at least one display device, said credit balance being increasable via an acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetary value, and said credit balance being decreasable via a cashout device.