LOCATION DETECTION FOR PORTABLE WAGERING GAME MACHINES

• US 20090247285A1
• Filed: 06/13/2007
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Gagner, Mark B.
• Application Number:
  US12/304,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20090247285A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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

Abstract

Systems and methods determine a location for a portable wagering game machine. The system may include a plurality of wireless signal sources, including wireless access points or Bluetooth type devices. The wireless signal sources may be arranged in predetermined locations such as a grid. In addition, a database may provide location information for the plurality of wireless signal sources.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a portable wagering game machine operable to present a wagering game upon which monetary value may be wagered; and

a plurality of wireless signal sources operable to provide a signal to a portable wagering game machine;

wherein the portable wagering game machine receives a signal from one or more of the plurality of wireless signal sources to determine a location of the portable wagering game machine.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal sources include wireless access points and wherein the wireless signal sources are arranged in predetermined locations.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the predetermined locations comprise a grid.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal sources include transmitter beacons and wherein the wireless signal sources are arranged in predetermined locations.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the predetermined locations comprise a grid.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the transmitter beacons are Bluetooth beacons.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal sources each include an antenna, and wherein the antenna are arranged in predetermined locations.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the antennae are arranged as a grid.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein each wireless signal source is assigned a unique identifier and wherein the wireless signal source provides the unique identifier in the signal provided to the portable wagering game machine.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a location management service operable to receive data from the portable wagering game machine and to determine a location based on the data.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a database including the locations of the plurality of wireless signal sources and wherein the location management service determines the location of the portable wagering game machine in accordance with the data received from the portable wagering game machine and the locations provided by the database.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable wagering game machine includes a location detection unit operable to determine a location for a portable wagering game machine.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the location detection unit includes a signal monitor component operable to receive a signal from at least one wireless signal source.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the location detection unit includes a mapping component operable to provide location data for the plurality of wireless signal sources.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the location detection unit includes a tracking component operable to determine a location based on data received from the signal monitor component and the mapping component.

16. A method comprising:

providing a portable wagering game machine operable to present a wagering game upon which monetary value may be wagered;

providing a plurality of wireless signal sources operable to provide a signal;

receiving by the portable wagering game machine one or more signals from one or more of the plurality of wireless signal sources; and

determining a location of the portable wagering game machine in accordance with the one or more signals.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising arranging the wireless signal sources in predetermined locations.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the predetermined locations comprise a grid.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the wireless signal sources include transmitter beacons further comprising arranging the wireless signal sources in predetermined locations.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the predetermined locations comprise a grid.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

assigning each wireless signal source a unique identifier; and

providing the unique identifier in a signal transmitted by each wireless signal source.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing a location management service operable to receive data from the portable wagering game machine;

determining by the location management service a location for the portable wagering game machine based on the data.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

storing in a database locations of the plurality of wireless signal sources; and

determining by the location management service the location of the portable wagering game machine in accordance with the data received from the portable wagering game machine and the locations provided by the database.

24. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving location data for the plurality of wireless signal sources; and

determining a location for the portable wagering game machine based on the one or more signals received from and the location data.

25. A machine-readable medium having machine executable instructions for causing one or more processors to perform a method, the method comprising:

presenting on a portable wagering game machine a wagering game upon which monetary value may be wagered;

receiving by the portable wagering game machine one or more signals from one or more of a plurality of wireless signal sources; and

determining a location of the portable wagering game machine in accordance with the one or more signals.