System and method for peer-to-peer wireless gaming

• US 10,460,566 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Inventors: Amaitis, Lee M., Asher, Joseph M., Bahrampour, Robert F., Mylet, Darrin M., Wilkins, Alan B., Lutnick, Howard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leichliter, Chase E
• Application Number:
  US13/616,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20130244742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,601 Days
• Field of Search: 463 1, 463 29, 463 39, 463 42, 2731381, 273139
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/40 Data acquisition and logging for input to computer G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• 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 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

A gaming system is provided. The gaming system allows users to access applications via gaming communication devices coupled to a communication network. At least a portion of the network may be wireless. The gaming applications include gambling, financial, entertainment service, and other types of transactions. The system may include a user location determination feature to prevent users from conducting transactions from unauthorized areas.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by at least one processor, a request from a first device via a network interface, the request identifying a selected gaming activity, a maximum number of players for the gaming activity, and a betting limit for the gaming activity;

searching, by the at least one processor, profile information of users stored in a database that are potential participants in the gaming activity;

transmitting, by the at least one processor, a list of users to the first device via the network interface;

receiving, by the at least one processor, from the first device via the network interface, a selection of a second user from the list of users;

determining, by the at least one processor, whether the first device and a second device are in a location that permits the gaming activity;

in response to determining that the first device and the second device are in a location that permits the gaming activity, determining, by the at least one processor, a distance between the first device and the second device;

determining, by the at least one processor, whether a distance requirement has been violated, in which the distance requirement comprises a minimum distance that must be maintained between the first device and the second device when providing the gaming activity;

based at least in part on determining that the distance requirement has been violated, disabling, by the at least one processor, the gaming activity at the first device and the second device;

based at least in part on determining that the distance requirement has not been violated, enabling, by the at least one processor, the gaming activity at the first device and the second device and communicating, by the at least processor, an invitation from the first device to the second device via the network interface, wherein the first device and the second device exchange location information and display the location information on respective screens;

receiving, by the at least one processor, an acceptance of the invitation from the second device via the network interface;

responsive to receiving the acceptance of the invitation from the second device, transmitting, by the at least one processor, data indicative of the gaming activity to the first device and the second device via the network interface; and

in response to determining that the first device and the second device are not in a location that permits the gaming activity, preventing, by the at least one processor, data indicative of the gaming activity from being transmitted to the second device via the network interface.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing, by the at least one processor, in the database, association information that identifies a relationship between a first user of the first device and the second user of the second device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling, by the at least one processor, the first device to play a plurality of player positions in the gaming activity.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling, by the at least one processor, the first device to wager on a performance of another user in the gaming activity.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the at least one processor, a communication from the first device via the network interface; and

transmitting, by the at least one processor, the communication to the second device, the communication comprising a text message via the network interface.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the at least one processor, a communication from the first device via the network interface; and

transmitting, by the at least one processor, the communication to the second device via the network interface, the communication comprising a voice message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the gaming activity comprises broadcasting, by the at least one processor, an event on respective displays of the first device and the second device via the network interface.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising selecting, by the at least one processor, the event from the group consisting of a sporting event, a gaming event, a sporting tournament, or a gaming tournament.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein broadcasting the event further comprises showing, by the at least one processor, the event from a user-selected player perspective.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming activity comprises a virtual blackjack game dealt from a multi-deck shoe.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second devices is selected from the group consisting of a mobile phone, a personal data assistant (PDA), a computer, and a mini-computer.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming activity is selected from the group consisting of blackjack, pai gow, and Caribbean stud.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming activity allows the first device and the second device to compete against each other.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming activity is selected from the group consisting of poker, sporting event wagering, athletic competition wagering, lottery contests, prize contests, and keno.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a network interface;

at least one processor to;

receive a request via the network interface from a first device, the request identifying a gaming activity, a maximum number of players, and a betting limit for the gaming activity;

search profile information of users stored in a database that are potential participants in the gaming activity;

transmit via the network interface a list of the users to the first device;

receive via the network interface from the first device, a selection of a second user from the list of the users;

determine whether the first device and a second device are in a location that permits the gaming activity;

in response to determining that the first device and the second device are in a location that permits the gaming activity, determine a distance between the first device and the second device;

determine whether a distance requirement has been violated, in which the distance requirement comprises a minimum distance that must be maintained between the first device and the second device when providing the gaming activity;

based at least in part on determining that the distance requirement has been violated, disable the gaming activity at the first device and the second device; and

based at least in part on determining that the distance requirement has not been violated, enable the gaming activity at the first device and the second device and communicate an invitation from the first device to the second device via the network interface, wherein the first device and the second device exchange location information and display the location information on respective screens;

in response to determining that the first device and the second device are not in a location that permits the gaming activity, prevent data indicative of the gaming activity from being transmitted to the second device via the network interface;

receive an acceptance of the invitation from the second device via the network interface; and

responsive to receiving the acceptance of the invitation, transmit data indicative of the gaming activity to the first device and the second device via the network interface.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein to transmit the data indicative of the gaming activity the at least one processor is further configured to broadcast via the network interface an event on respective displays of the first device and the second device.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to select the event from the group consisting of a sporting event, a gaming event, a sporting tournament, or a gaming tournament.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

store in a database association information that identifies a relationship between a first user of the first device and the second user of the second device.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the gaming activity allows the first device and the second device to compete against each other.