System and method for utilizing mobile device to provide service window functionality

• US 10,522,001 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2018
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Higgins, Kevin, Petersen, Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US16/033,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20200020195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 463 42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3204 Player-machine interfaces
• 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

Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to a system that utilizes an application running on a mobile device to collect game-based data regarding a player'"'"'s experience at a gaming establishment.

Claims

1. A gaming establishment management system component comprising:

a first interface configured to communicate with a gaming establishment server;

a second interface configured to communicate with a mobile device;

a processor; and

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

receive, via the first interface, data associated with an event determined by the gaming establishment server, and

wirelessly communicate, via the second interface and to the mobile device, the data associated with the event determined by the gaming establishment server, wherein the wireless communication results in a mobile device application of the mobile device displaying, via a service window, a message associated with the event.

2. The gaming establishment management system component of claim 1, wherein the gaming establishment server comprises a bonusing server and the event comprises an award determination.

3. The gaming establishment management system component of claim 2, wherein the award determination comprises a progressive award incrementing to a randomly determined threshold value.

4. The gaming establishment management system component of claim 1, wherein the mobile device application of the mobile device displays, via the service window, the message associated with the event responsive to a completion of a delivery game.

5. The gaming establishment management system component of claim 4, wherein the delivery game is displayed via the mobile device.

6. The gaming establishment management system component of claim 1, wherein the processor comprises a processor of a slot machine interface board supported by a housing of an electronic gaming machine.

7. The gaming establishment management system component of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor responsive to receiving, via the first interface, the data associated with the event determined by the gaming establishment server, the instructions cause the processor to communicate, via a third interface, data to an electronic gaming machine which results in a display device of the electronic gaming machine displaying information associated with the event.

8. The gaming establishment management system component of claim 7, wherein the information associated with the event is displayed via a service window of the electronic gaming machine.

9. A gaming establishment server comprising:

an interface configured to communicate with a mobile device;

a processor; and

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

determine an occurrence of an event, and

wirelessly communicate, via the interface and to the mobile device, data associated with the event, wherein the wireless communication results in a mobile device application of the mobile device displaying, via a service window, a message associated with the event.

10. The gaming establishment server of claim 9, wherein the event comprises an award determination.

11. The gaming establishment server of claim 10, wherein the award determination comprises a progressive award incrementing to a randomly determined threshold value.

12. The gaming establishment server of claim 9, wherein the mobile device application of the mobile device displays, via the service window, the message associated with the event responsive to a completion of a delivery game.

13. The gaming establishment server of claim 12, wherein the delivery game is displayed via the mobile device.

14. The gaming establishment server of claim 9, wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to communicate data to an electronic gaming machine which results in a display device of the electronic gaming machine displaying information associated with the event.

15. The gaming establishment server of claim 14, wherein the information associated with the event is displayed via a service window of the electronic gaming machine.

16. A method of operating a gaming establishment management system component, the method comprising:

receiving, via a first interface, data associated with an event determined by a gaming establishment server, and

wirelessly communicating, via a second interface and to a mobile device, the data associated with the event determined by the gaming establishment server, wherein the wireless communication results in a mobile device application of the mobile device displaying, via a service window, a message associated with the event.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the gaming establishment server comprises a bonusing server and the event comprises an award determination.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the award determination comprises a progressive award incrementing to a randomly determined threshold value.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the mobile device application of the mobile device displays, via the service window, the message associated with the event responsive to a completion of a delivery game.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the delivery game is displayed via the mobile device.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising, responsive to receiving, via the first interface, the data associated with the event determined by the gaming establishment server, communicating, via a third interface, data to an electronic gaming machine which results in a display device of the electronic gaming machine displaying information associated with the event.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the information associated with the event is displayed via a service window of the electronic gaming machine.