System and method for wireless gaming with location determination

• US 10,653,952 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2019
• Issued: 05/19/2020
• 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:
  US16/516,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20190336856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 305 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:

controlling, by at least one processor;

determining a first location of a mobile device by comparing predetermined sets of signal characteristics with a first set of signal characteristics measured between signal detection devices of a communications network and the mobile device,

in which the predetermined sets of signal characteristics respectively describe, for each of a plurality of locations covered by the communications network, signals between a calibration device at the location and the signal detection devices;

based on the first location, enabling at least one activity through the mobile device that is allowed at the first location if any is allowed at the first location;

calculating a cumulative amount of time that a user of the mobile device engages in the at least one activity from a plurality of locations; and

preventing 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, or 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, further comprising:

controlling, by the at least one processor, 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 regions is associated with at least one allowed activity;

and in which enabling the at least one activity includes allowing the at least one activity associated with the first region.

8. The method of claim 5, in which the first region is divided into a plurality of areas, and in which the predetermined sets of signal characteristics include a first predetermined 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 an area of the plurality of areas in which the mobile device is located by comparing the first set of signal characteristics with the first predetermined sets of signal characteristics.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

controlling, by the at least one processor, 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, or a purchasing of transportation.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling, by the at least one processor, measuring each of the predetermined 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, further comprising controlling, by the at least one processor, calculating each of the predetermined sets of signal characteristics before the mobile device is allowed to use the communications network for the at least one activity.

15. The method of claim 1, in which determining the first location includes matching the first set of signal characteristics with a first predetermined set of signal characteristics of the predetermined sets 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 the at least one processor, the mobile device and the calibration device are distinct.

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

19. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor configured to control;

determining a first location of a mobile device by comparing predetermined sets of signal characteristics with a first set of signal characteristics measured between signal detection devices of a communications network and the mobile device,

in which the predetermined sets of signal characteristics respectively describe, for each of a plurality of locations covered by the communications network, signals between a calibration device at the location and the signal detection devices;

based on the first location, enabling at least one activity through the mobile device that is allowed at the first location if any is allowed at the first location;

calculating a cumulative amount of time that a user of the mobile device engages in the at least one activity from a plurality of locations; and

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

20. A non-transitory storage medium configured to store instructions which, when executed by a computer, control:

determining a first location of a mobile device by comparing predetermined sets of signal characteristics with a first set of signal characteristics measured between signal detection devices of a communications network and the mobile device,

in which the predetermined sets of signal characteristics respectively describe, for each of a plurality of locations covered by the communications network, signals between a calibration device at the location and the signal detection devices;

based on the first location, enabling at least one activity through the mobile device that is allowed at the first location if any is allowed at the first location;

calculating a cumulative amount of time that a user of the mobile device engages in the at least one activity from a plurality of locations; and

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