System and method for wireless gaming with location determination

• US 10,391,397 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2016
• Issued: 08/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interactive Games LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: Interactive Games LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Inventors: Amaitis, Lee, Asher, Joseph M., Bahrampour, Robert F., Mylet, Darrin M., Wilkins, Alan B., Lutnick, Howard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Renwick, Reginald A
• Application Number:
  US15/250,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20170144065A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for wireless gaming with location determination are provided. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the system includes a gaming server; a wireless network at least partially covering a property, the wireless network comprising a plurality of signal detection devices; and a gaming communication device operable to transmit and receive gaming information to and from the gaming server via the wireless network. A location of the gaming communication device on the property may be determined based upon a signal received by the plurality of signal detection devices from the gaming communication device. Based upon the location of the gaming communication device on the property, a predetermined functionality of the gaming communication device may be enabled.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

for each of a plurality of locations covered by a communications network, calculating, by a computing device, a respective set of signal characteristics that describe signals between a calibration device at the location and a set of signal detection devices of the communication network;

determining, by the computing device, a first location of a mobile device by comparing the calculated sets of signal characteristics with a first set of signal characteristics measured between the signal detection devices and the mobile device;

based on the first location, enabling, by the computing device, a set of activities through the mobile device that are allowed at the first location if any are allowed at the first location;

calculating, by the computing device, a cumulative amount of time that a user of the mobile device engages in the activity from a plurality of locations; and

preventing, by the computing device, the cumulative amount of time from exceeding a threshold amount of time.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the first set of signal characteristics includes strengths of a plurality of signals between the mobile device and the signal detection devices.

3. The method of claim 1, in which at least one of the signal detection devices includes at least one of a wireless access point, a wireless router, a wireless base station, and a satellite.

4. The method of claim 1, in which the first set of signal characteristics includes transmission times of a plurality of signals between the mobile device and the signal detection devices.

5. The method of claim 1, in which determining the first location includes determining that the first location is in a first region of a property that is covered by the communications network and includes multiple regions that are covered by the communications network.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising:

suggesting a course adjustment to a user of the mobile device in response to determining that the mobile device has moved from the first region.

7. The method of claim 5, in which each of the plurality of regions is associated with at least one allowed activity;

and in which enabling the set includes allowing the set associated with the first region.

8. The method of claim 1, in which the first region is divided into a plurality of areas, and in which calculating each set of signal characteristics for each location of the plurality of locations includes calculating one set of signal characteristics for each of the plurality of areas.

9. The method of claim 8, in which determining the first location includes determining the area of the plurality of areas in which the mobile device is located by comparing the first set of signal characteristics to the set of signal characteristics.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising:

allowing, in response to determining the first location, at least one of a making of a reservation, a purchasing of merchandise, a purchasing of a service, a purchasing of food, a purchasing of a beverage, a purchasing of a ticket to an entertainment event, and a purchasing of transportation.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring each of the respective sets of signal characteristics before determining the first location.

12. The method of claim 1, in which the calibration device includes a second mobile device.

13. The method of claim 1, in which the calibration device is distinct from the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 1, in which each set of signal characteristics is calculated before the mobile device is allowed to use the communications network for the set of activities.

15. The method of claim 1, in which determining the first location includes matching the first set of signal characteristics with a calculated set of signal characteristics that corresponds to the first location.

16. The method of claim 1, in which each signal detection device includes a respective access point to the communications network through which the mobile device may access the communications network.

17. The method of claim 1, in which computing device and the mobile device and the calibration device are distinct.

18. The method of claim 1, in which the plurality of locations are located within a property spanned by the communications network.

19. The method of claim 1 comprising:

disabling the set of activities in response to a period of non-use of the mobile device.

20. The method of claim 1, in which preventing the cumulative amount of time from exceeding the threshold amount of time includes disabling the set of activities in response to the cumulative amount reaching the threshold amount.

21. The method of claim 1, in which the cumulative amount of time includes a time for a single activity session.

22. The method of claim 1, comprising:

determining that the mobile device is in another location where the set of activities is not permitted; and

allowing the set of activities in the other location for only up to a maximum amount of time.

23. The method of claim 1, comprising determining the set of activities includes determining a time of day and determining that there is no restriction on the set of activities taking place at the time of day.

24. The method of claim 23, comprising, at another time of day, preventing the set of activities through the mobile device at the first location.

25. An apparatus comprising:

a computing device; and

a non-transitory medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions that when executed by the computing device, causes the apparatus to;

for each of a plurality of locations covered by a communications network, calculate a respective set of signal characteristics that describe signals between a calibration device at the location and a set of signal detection devices of the communication network;

determine a first location of a mobile device by comparing the calculated sets of signal characteristics with a first set of signal characteristics measured between the signal detection devices and the mobile device;

based on the first location, enable a set of activities through the mobile device that are allowed at the first location if any are allowed at the first location;

calculate a cumulative amount of time that a user of the mobile device engages in a activity from a plurality of locations; and

prevent the cumulative amount of time from exceeding a threshold amount of time.

26. A method comprising:

before using a communication device through a wireless communication network, associating, by a computing device, each of a plurality of sets of signal characteristics with a respective location, each set of signal characteristics including a respective plurality of signal characteristics and each signal characteristic of a respective plurality of signal characteristics corresponding to a signal between a device and a wireless network device;

determining a location of the communication device by comparing, by the computing device, a set of signal characteristics involving the communication device and a plurality of wireless network devices to the prior associated sets of signal characteristics;

wherein a functionality of the communication device is enabled based upon the determined location; and

disabling the functionality in response to a period of non-use of the communication device.

27. A method comprising:

before using a communication device through a wireless communication network, associating, by a computing device, each of a plurality of sets of signal characteristics with a respective location, each set of signal characteristics including a respective plurality of signal characteristics and each signal characteristic of a respective plurality of signal characteristics corresponding to a signal between a device and a wireless network device;

determining a location of the communication device by comparing, by the computing device, a set of signal characteristics involving the communication device and a plurality of wireless network devices to the prior associated sets of signal characteristics;

wherein a functionality of the communication device is enabled based upon the determined location;

determining that the communication device is in another location where the functionality is not permitted; and

allowing functionality in the other location for up to a maximum amount of time; and

suggesting a course adjustment to a user of the communication device in response to determining that the communication device has moved from the location.