System and method for providing wireless gaming as a service application

• US 20070060306A1
• Filed: 08/09/2005
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interactive Games 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 8,070,604 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/086 played via telephone, e.g. using a modem
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

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 communication system, comprising:

at least one processor operable to provide a gaming service to a gaming device in electronic communication with the processor, the gaming device associated with an account; and

wherein the gaming service is provided to the gaming device according to at least one customizable-parameter associated with the account.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter is set by a user associated with the communication account.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter is set by a communication services provider associated with the account.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter is set by law.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter comprises service level information.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter comprises a customer preference.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the customer preference identifies a customer interest identifying a subset of a gaming industry.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter comprises location information.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter comprises subscription information.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further operable to provide a communication service to the gaming device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the communication service comprises a wireless telephone service.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the gaming service comprises an add-on service that is provided as a corollary to the communication service.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the communication service comprises an add-on service that is provided as a corollary to the gaming service.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the gaming service is bundled with one or more communication enhancements.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the one or more communication enhancements comprise a service selected from the group consisting of caller ID, call waiting, call waiting ID, voice messaging, text messaging, customizable ring tones, photo sharing services, video sharing services, customizable downloads.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further operable to generate a bill associated with the communications account, the bill including an accounting of the gaming services and communication services provided to the gaming device.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further operable to generate a bill associated with the communications account, the bill including an accounting of the gaming service provided to the gaming device.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the gaming service comprises a news service.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the gaming service comprises a gambling service that allows a user associated with the gaming device to place bets.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the gaming service comprises a virtual casino.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter comprises the identification of user-selected activities to be included in the virtual casino.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the communications 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.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the gaming device is selected from the group consisting of a mobile phone, a personal data assistant (PDA), a computer, and a mini-computer.

24. A gaming system, comprising:

a database electronically storing at least one gaming application configured to be overlaid on an existing communication network; and

wherein the at least one gaming application is operable to be distributed to a gaming device in electronic communication with the communication network in accordance with at least one customizable-parameter.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter is set by a user associated with the communication account.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter is set by a communication services provider associated with the account.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter is set by law.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter comprises service level information.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter comprises a customer preference.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the customer preference identifies a customer interest identifying a subset of a gaming industry.

31. The system of claim 24, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter comprises location information.

32. The system of claim 24, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter comprises subscription information.

33. The system of claim 24, wherein the at least one processor is further operable to provide a communication service to the gaming device.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the communication service comprises a wireless telephone service.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the gaming service comprises an add-on service that is provided as a corollary to the communication service.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the communication service comprises an add-on service that is provided as a corollary to the gaming service.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein the gaming service is bundled with one or more communication enhancements.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein at least one of the one or more communication enhancements comprise a service selected from the group consisting of caller. ID, call waiting, call waiting ID, voice messaging, text messaging, customizable ring tones, photo sharing services, video sharing services, customizable downloads.

39. The system of claim 33, wherein the processor is further operable to generate a bill associated with the communications account, the bill including an accounting of the gaming services and communication services provided to the gaming device.

40. The system of claim 24, wherein the processor is further operable to generate a bill associated with the communications account, the bill including an accounting of the gaming service provided to the gaming device.

41. The system of claim 24, wherein the gaming service comprises a news service.

42. The system of claim 24, wherein the gaming service comprises a gambling service that allows a user associated with the gaming device to place bets.

43. The system of claim 24, wherein the gaming service comprises a virtual casino.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter comprises the identification of user-selected activities to be included in the virtual casino.

45. The system of claim 24, wherein at least a portion of the communications 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.

46. The system of claim 24, wherein the gaming device is selected from the group consisting of a mobile phone, a personal data assistant (PDA), a computer, and a mini-computer.

47. A method for providing wireless gaming as a service application, the method comprising:

using a pre-existing communications network to provide a communications service to at least one customer;

applying at least one customizable-parameter to a gaming service; and

providing the gaming service to the at least one customer on the pre-existing communication network according to the least one customizable-parameter.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter comprises service level information.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter comprises a customer preference.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the customer preference identifies a customer interest identifying a subset of a gaming industry.

51. The method of claim 47, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter comprises location information identifying the physical location of a gaming device associated with the customer.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein applying the at least one customizable-parameter comprises applying one or more rules associated with a jurisdiction including the physical location of the gaming device to create the gaming service.

53. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

determining that the location of the gaming device has been changed;

updating the location information to reflect a new physical location associated with the gaming device; and

applying the updated location information to the gaming service.

54. The method of claim 47, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter comprises subscription information identifying one or more gaming applications to which the customer has subscribed.

55. The method of claim 47, wherein providing the communications service to the at least one customer comprises providing a wireless telephone service.

56. The method of claim 47, further comprising providing a communications enhancement service with the gaming service.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the communications enhancement service comprises a service selected from the group consisting of caller ID, call waiting, call waiting ID, voice messaging, text messaging, customizable ring tones, photo sharing services, video sharing services, customizable downloads.

58. The method of claim 47, further comprising periodically generating a bill including an accounting of the gaming service and communication service provided to the customer.

59. The method of claim 47, further comprising generating a bill including an accounting of the gaming service provided to the customer.

60. The method of claim 47, wherein providing the gaming service comprises providing a news service.

61. The method of claim 47, wherein providing the gaming service comprises providing a gambling service that allows the customer to place a bet.

62. The method of claim 47, wherein providing the gaming service comprises providing a virtual casino.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein applying the at least one customizable-parameter to the gaming service comprises identifying one or more user-selected games to be included in the virtual casino.

64. A method of providing wireless gaming as a service application, the method comprising:

using a pre-existing communications network to provide a telecommunications service to at least one customer;

maintaining a communications account associated with the at least one customer; and

offering a gaming service to be provided, to the at least one customer, on the pre-existing communications network in accordance with at least one customizable-parameter.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter comprises service level information.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter comprises a customer preference.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the customer preference identifies a customer interest identifying a subset of a gaming industry.

68. The method of claim 64, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter comprises location information identifying the physical location of a gaming device associated with the customer.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein applying the at least one customizable-parameter comprises applying one or more rules associated with a jurisdiction including the physical location of the gaming device to create the gaming service.

70. The method of claim 68, further comprising:

determining that the location of the gaming device has been changed;

updating the location information to reflect a new physical location associated with the gaming device; and

applying the updated location information to the gaming service.

71. The method of claim 64, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter comprises subscription information identifying one or more gaming applications to which the customer has subscribed.

72. The method of claim 64, wherein providing the communications service to the at least one customer comprises providing a wireless telephone service.

73. The method of claim 64, further comprising providing a communications enhancement service with the gaming service.

74. The method of claim 64, wherein the communications enhancement service comprises a service selected from the group consisting of caller ID, call waiting, call waiting ID, voice messaging, text messaging, customizable ring tones, photo sharing services, video sharing services, customizable downloads.

75. The method of claim 64, further comprising periodically generating a bill including an accounting of the gaming service and communication service provided to the customer.

76. The method of claim 64, further comprising generating a bill including an accounting of the gaming service provided to the customer.

77. The method of claim 64, wherein providing the gaming service comprises providing a news service.

78. The method of claim 64, wherein providing the gaming service comprises providing a gambling service that allows the customer to place a bet.

79. The method of claim 64, wherein providing the gaming service comprises providing a virtual casino.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein applying the at least one customizable-parameter to the gaming service comprises identifying one or more user-selected games to be included in the virtual casino.

81. Software for providing wireless gaming as a service application, the software operable to:

use a pre-existing communications network to provide a communications service to at least one customer;

apply at least one customizable-parameter to a gaming service; and

provide the gaming service to the at least one customer on the pre-existing communication network according to the least one customizable-parameter.

82. The software of claim 81, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter comprises service level information.

83. The software of claim 81, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter comprises a customer preference.

84. The software of claim 81, wherein the customer preference identifies a customer interest identifying a subset of a gaming industry.

85. The software of claim 81, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter comprises location information identifying the physical location of a gaming device associated with the customer.

86. The software of claim 85, wherein applying the at least one customizable-parameter comprises applying one or more rules associated with a jurisdiction including the physical location of the gaming device to create the gaming service.

87. The software of claim 85, further operable to:

determine that the location of the gaming device has been changed;

update the location information to reflect a new physical location associated with the gaming device; and

apply the updated location information to the gaming service.

88. The software of claim 81, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter comprises subscription information identifying one or more gaming applications to which the customer has subscribed.

89. The software of claim 81, wherein providing the communications service to the at least one customer comprises providing a wireless telephone service.

90. The software of claim 89, further operable to provide a communications enhancement service with the gaming service.

91. The software of claim 89, wherein the communications enhancement service comprises a service selected from the group consisting of caller ID, call waiting, call waiting ID, voice messaging, text messaging customizable ring tones, photo sharing services, video sharing services, customizable downloads.

92. The software of claim 81, further operable to periodically generate a bill including an accounting of the gaming service and communication service provided to the customer.

93. The software of claim 81, further operable to generate a bill including an accounting of the gaming service provided to the customer.

94. The software of claim 81, wherein providing the gaming service comprises providing a news service.

95. The software of claim 81, wherein providing the gaming service comprises providing a gambling service that allows the customer to place a bet.

96. The software of claim 81, wherein providing the gaming service comprises providing a virtual casino.

97. The software of claim 96, wherein applying the at least one customizable-parameter to the gaming service comprises identifying one or more user-selected games to be included in the virtual casino.

98. The software of claim 81, wherein at least a portion of the communications 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.

99. The software of claim 81, wherein the gaming device is selected from the group consisting of a mobile phone, a personal data assistant (PDA), a computer, and a mini-computer.

100. Software for providing wireless gaming as a service application, the software operable to:

use a pre-existing communications network to provide a communications service to at least one customer;

maintain a communications account associated with the at least one customer; and

offer a gaming service to be provided, to the at least one customer, on the pre- existing communications network in accordance with at least one customizable-parameter.

101. The software of claim 100, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter comprises service level information.

102. The software of claim 100, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter comprises a customer preference.

103. The software of claim 102, wherein the customer preference identifies a customer interest identifying a subset of a gaming industry.

104. The software of claim 100, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter comprises location information identifying the physical location of a gaming device associated with the customer.

105. The software of claim 104, wherein applying the at least one customizable-parameter comprises applying one or more rules associated with a jurisdiction including the physical location of the gaming device to create the gaming service.

106. The software of claim 104, further operable to:

determining that the location of the gaming device has been changed;

updating the location information to reflect a new physical location associated with the gaming device; and

applying the updated location information to the gaming service.

107. The software of claim 100, wherein the at least one customizable-parameter comprises subscription information identifying one or more gaming applications to which the customer has subscribed.

108. The software of claim 100, wherein providing the communications service to the at least one customer comprises providing a wireless telephone service.

109. The software of claim 100, further operable to provide a communications enhancement service with the gaming service.

110. The software of claim 100, wherein the communications enhancement service comprises a service selected from the group consisting of caller ID, call waiting, call waiting ID, voice messaging, text messaging, customizable ring tones, photo sharing services, video sharing services, customizable downloads.

111. The software of claim 100, further operable to periodically generate a bill including an accounting of the gaming service and communication service provided to the customer.

112. The software of claim 100, further operable to generate a bill including an accounting of the gaming service provided to the customer.

113. The software of claim 100, wherein providing the gaming service comprises providing a news service.

114. The software of claim 100, wherein providing the gaming service comprises providing a gambling service that allows the customer to place a bet.

115. The software of claim 100, wherein providing the gaming service comprises providing a virtual casino.

116. The software of claim 115, wherein applying the at least one customizable- parameter to the gaming service comprises identifying one or more user-selected games to be included in the virtual casino.

117. The software of claim 100, wherein at least a portion of the communications 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.

118. The software of claim 100, wherein the gaming device is selected from the group consisting of a mobile phone, a personal data assistant (PDA), a computer, and a mini-computer.