SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIRELESSS GAMING WITH LOCATION DETERMINATION

• US 20080102956A1
• Filed: 10/26/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interactive Games LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: Interactive Games LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Inventors: ALDERUCCI, Dean P., BURMAN, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 9,306,952 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• 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 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

In accordance with the teachings of the present embodiment, a system and method for wireless gaming with location-dependent gaming functions are provided. In a particular embodiment, the apparatus 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 is used to alter a game play function, such as a bet option, wager, graphic overlay, permission, or to provide location-dependent advertising or embedded advertising. Based upon the location of the gaming communication device on the property, a predetermined functionality of the gaming communication device may be enabled and/or controlled.

Claims

1. An wireless gaming apparatus, comprising:

a wireless network interface operable to transmit and receive gaming information;

a location determination system for determining a location of the wireless gaming terminal; and

a user interface for interacting with a user to implement a game, wherein the game depends on the determined location.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the location determination system comprises a network based location system.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the location determination system comprises a satellite based location system.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wireless network interface communicates in an unlicensed radio frequency band.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wireless network interface communicates in a licensed radio frequency band.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wireless network interface communicates using an IEEE-802.11x compatible protocol.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wireless network interface communicates using an IEEE-802.16x compatible protocol.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said user interface comprises a cellular telephone.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said gaming system comprises a personal digital assistant.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said gaming system comprises a laptop computer.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said user gaming system comprises a biometric user identification system.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said user interface comprises a liquid crystal display.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wireless network interface communicates encrypted information.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wireless network interface communicates using a virtual private network.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said location determining system employs an optical location technique.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said location determining system comprises an RF-ID tag.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said location determining system employs a short range modulated magnetic field communication protocol.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the game receives the determined location as an input parameter, and alters a user interface for a predetermined game in response thereto.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the game receives the determined location as an input parameter, and alters at least one rule of a game in response thereto.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the game receives the determined location as an input parameter, and alters a wager of the game in response thereto.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the game receives the determined location as an input parameter, and alters a bet option of the game in response thereto.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the game receives the determined location as an input parameter, and alters an ancillary incentive for playing the game in response thereto.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the game receives the determined location as an input parameter, and determines a permission for playing the game.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein The apparatus offers an incentive for a player to relocate to a different location.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein The apparatus offers an incentive for a player to remain in a location.

26. A method for wireless gaming, comprising:

determining a location of a remote wireless terminal;

communicating identification and location information between a remote wireless terminal and central server; and

interacting with a user to implement a game, wherein the game depends on the determined location; and

communicating a game outcome from the central server to the remote wireless terminal.

27. An apparatus comprising:

a computer programmed to perform the method or claim 26.