System and method for peer-to-peer wireless gaming

• US 20070054739A1
• Filed: 08/24/2005
• Published: 03/08/2007
• 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, Lutnick, Howard, Wilkins, Alan, Bahrampour, Robert, Asher, Joseph, Mylet, Darrin
• Granted Patent: US 10,510,214 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 gaming system, comprising:

a controlled-access data network in electronic communication with a plurality of gaming devices; and

a processor in communication with the controlled-access data network and operable to provide a gaming service to the plurality of gaming devices to enable at least two of the plurality of gaming devices to interactively participate in a gaming activity.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the controlled-access data network is selected from the group consisting of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), WiFi (802.11x), WiMax (802.16x), Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), Blue Tooth, and cable modem.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein access to the controlled access data network is restricted to a group of users.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the membership of a selected user to the group of users is determined based on a registration of the selected user.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the membership of a selected user to the group of users is determined based on a location associated with the selected user.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of gaming devices is selected from the group consisting of a mobile phone, a personal data assistant (PDA), a computer, and a mini-computer.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the gaming activity allows users associated with the at least two gaming devices to compete against the house.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the gaming activity is selected from the group consisting of blackjack, pai gow, and caribbean stud.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the gaming activity allows users associated with the at least two gaming devices to compete against one another.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the gaming activity is selected from the group consisting of poker, sporting event wagering, athletic competition wagering, lottery contests, prize contests, and keno.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor comprises a location identification module that is operable to determine location information associated with at least one of the plurality of gaming devices.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further operable to transmit the location information associated with the at least one of the plurality of gaming devices to at least one other of the plurality of gaming devices.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of gaming devices comprise a display operable to display location information associated with at least one other of the plurality of gaming devices to a user.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a memory module storing association information that identifies a relationship between the at least two gaming devices.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operable to:

receive a request from a first of the two gaming devices, the request identifying a particular gaming activity in which a first user associated with the first gaming device would like to participate;

identify a second of the two gaming devices as a potential participant in the particular gaming activity; and

communicate an invite to the second gaming device to request the participation of a second user associated with the second gaming device in the particular gaming activity.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a memory module storing association information that identifies a relationship between the first user of the first gaming device and the second user of the second gaming device.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the gaming service allows a first user associated with a first of the at least two gaming devices to play a plurality of player positions in the gaming activity.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the gaming service allows a first user associated with a first of the at least two gaming devices to wager on the performance of a second user associated with the second the at least two gaming devices in the gaming activity.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor comprises a messaging module operable to receive a communication from a first of the at least two gaming devices and transmit the communication to a second of the at least two gaming devices, the communication comprising a text message.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor comprises a messaging module operable to receive a communication from a first of the at least two gaming devices and transmit the communication to a second of the at least two gaming devices, the communication comprising a voice message.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the gaming activity comprises viewing an event on a display of the at least two gaming devices.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the event is selected from the group consisting of a sporting event, a gaming event, a sporting tournament, or a gaming tournament.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor is further operable transmit a broadcast of the event to the at least two gaming devices, the broadcast of the event showing the event from a user-selected player position.

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

25. A method for providing peer-to-peer gaming, the method comprising:

providing controlled-access data network in electronic communication with a plurality of gaming devices;

using the controlled-access data network to provide a gaming service to the plurality of gaming devices; and

enabling at least two of the plurality of gaming devices to interactively participate in a single gaming activity.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein at least a portion of the controlled-access data network is selected from the group consisting of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), WiFi (802.11x), WiMax (802.16x), Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), Blue Tooth, and cable modem.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein access to the controlled access data network is restricted to a group of users.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the membership of a selected user to the group of users is determined based on a registration of the selected user.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the membership of a selected user to the group of users is determined based on a location associated with the selected user.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein at least one of the plurality of gaming devices is selected from the group consisting of a mobile phone, a personal data assistant (PDA), a computer, and a mini-computer.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein enabling the gaming devices to interactively participate in the single gaming activity comprises allowing the users associated with the at least two gaming devices to compete against the house.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein enabling the gaming devices to interactively participate in the single gaming activity comprises allowing the users associated with the gaming devices to participate in a gaming activity selected from the group consisting of blackjack, pai gow, and Caribbean stud.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein enabling the gaming devices to interactively participate in the single gaming activity comprises allowing the users associated with the at least two gaming devices to compete against one another.

34. The method of claim 25, wherein enabling the gaming devices to interactively participate in the single gaming activity comprises allowing the users associated with the gaming devices to participate in a gaming activity selected from the group consisting of poker, sporting event wagering, athletic competition wagering, lottery contests, prize contests, and keno.

35. The method of claim 25, further comprising determining location information associated with at least one of the plurality of gaming devices.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising transmitting the location information associated with the at least one of the plurality of gaming devices to at least one other of the plurality of gaming devices.

37. The method of claim 25, further comprising storing association information that identifies a relationship between the at least two gaming devices.

38. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

receiving a request from a first of the two gaming devices, the request identifying a particular gaming activity in which a first user associated with the first gaming device would like to participate;

identifying a second of the two gaming devices as a potential participant in the particular gaming activity; and

communicating an invite to the second gaming device to request the participation of a second user associated with the second gaming device in the particular gaming activity.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising storing association information that identifies a relationship between the first user of the first gaming device and the second user of the second gaming device.

40. The method of claim 25, wherein using the controlled-access data network to provide the gaming service comprises allowing a first user associated with a first of the at least two gaming devices to play a plurality of player positions in the gaming activity.

41. The method of claim 25, wherein using the controlled-access data network to provide the gaming service comprises allows a first user associated with a first of the at least two gaming devices to wager on the performance of a second user associated with the second the at least two gaming devices in the gaming activity.

42. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

receiving a communication from a first of the at least two gaming devices; and

transmitting the communication to a second of the at least two gaming devices, the communication comprising a text message.

43. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

receiving a communication from a first of the at least two gaming devices; and

transmitting the communication to a second of the at least two gaming devices, the communication comprising a voice message.

44. The method of claim 25, wherein enabling the gaming devices to interactively participate in the single gaming activity comprises broadcasting an event on a display of the at least two gaming devices.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the event is selected from the group consisting of a sporting event, a gaming event, a sporting tournament, or a gaming tournament.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the broadcast of the event showing the event from a user-selected player position.

47. The method of claim 25, wherein enabling the gaming devices to interactively participate in the single gaming activity comprises enabling the gaming devices to interactively participate in a virtual blackjack game dealt from a multi-deck shoe.

48. Software for providing peer-to-peer gaming, the software operable to:

use a controlled-access network in electronic communication with a plurality of gaming devices to provide a gaming service to the plurality of gaming devices; and

enable at least two of the plurality of gaming devices to interactively participate in a single gaming activity.

49. The software of claim 48, wherein at least a portion of the controlled-access data network is selected from the group consisting of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), WiFi (802.11x), WiMax (802.16x), Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), Blue Tooth, and cable modem.

50. The software of claim 48, wherein access to the controlled access data network is restricted to a group of users.

51. The software of claim 50, wherein the membership of a selected user to the group of users is determined based on a registration of the selected user.

52. The software of claim 50, wherein the membership of a selected user to the group of users is determined based on a location associated with the selected user.

53. The software of claim 48, wherein at least one of the plurality of gaming devices is selected from the group consisting of a mobile phone, a personal data assistant (PDA), a computer, and a mini-computer.

54. The software of claim 48, wherein the software is further operable to allow the users associated with the at least two gaming devices to compete against the house.

55. The software of claim 48, wherein the software is further operable to allow the users associated with the gaming devices to participate in a gaming activity selected from the group consisting of blackjack, pai gow, and caribbean stud.

56. The software of claim 48, wherein the software is further operable to allow the users associated with the at least two gaming devices to compete against one another.

57. The software of claim 48, wherein the software is further operable to allow the users associated with the gaming devices to participate in a gaming activity selected from the group consisting of poker, sporting event wagering, athletic competition wagering, lottery contests, prize contests, and keno.

58. The software of claim 48, further operable to determine location information associated with at least one of the plurality of gaming devices.

59. The software of claim 58, further operable to transmit the location information associated with the at least one of the plurality of gaming devices to at least one other of the plurality of gaming devices.

60. The software of claim 48, further operable to store association information that identifies a relationship between the at least two gaming devices.

61. The software of claim 48, further operable to:

receive a request from a first of the two gaming devices, the request identifying a particular gaming activity in which a first user associated with the first gaming device would like to participate;

identify a second of the two gaming devices as a potential participant in the particular gaming activity; and

communicate an invite to the second gaming device to request the participation of a second user associated with the second gaming device in the particular gaming activity.

62. The software of claim 61, further operable to store association information that identifies a relationship between the first user of the first gaming device and the second user of the second gaming device.

63. The software of claim 48, further operable to allow a first user associated with a first of the at least two gaming devices to play a plurality of player positions in the gaming activity.

64. The software of claim 48, further operable to allow a first user associated with a first of the at least two gaming devices to wager on the performance of a second user associated with the second the at least two gaming devices in the gaming activity.

65. The software of claim 48, further operable to:

receive a communication from a first of the at least two gaming devices; and

transmit the communication to a second of the at least two gaming devices, the communication comprising a text message.

66. The software of claim 48, further operable to:

receive a communication from a first of the at least two gaming devices; and

transmit the communication to a second of the at least two gaming devices, the communication comprising a voice message.

67. The software of claim 48, further operable to broadcast an event on a display of the at least two gaming devices.

68. The software of claim 67, wherein the event is selected from the group consisting of a sporting event, a gaming event, a sporting tournament, or a gaming tournament.

69. The software of claim 67, wherein the broadcast of the event shows the event from a user-selected player position.

70. The software of claim 48, further operable to enable the gaming devices to interactively participate in a virtual blackjack game dealt from a multi-deck shoe.