INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION IN GAMING NETWORKS

• US 20090275402A1
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Corson, David, Taylor, Alexandra, Vincent, Ignatius, Panindra, Subbarrao, Bybee, Sean, Srinivasan, Mukundhan, Chaparala, Rajendra, Backover, Marty, McMahan, Patricia
• Granted Patent: US 9,483,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value

Abstract

Patron information generated at an originating gaming property may be transmitted to a requesting gaming property based on a set of permissions associated with a group of gaming properties. Vouchers generated at a first gaming property may also be redeemed at a second gaming property.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for distributing patron information in a gaming environment, the method comprising:

logically associating a first plurality of gaming properties to create a first property group, the first plurality of gaming properties including an originating gaming property and a requesting gaming property;

generating a set of permissions for the first property group;

receiving patron information associated with at least one patron from the originating gaming property;

receiving a request for the patron information from the requesting gaming property;

verifying the request based at least in part on the set of permissions; and

if the request is verified, transmitting the patron information to the requesting gaming property.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein logically associating the first plurality of gaming properties further comprises logically associating the first plurality of gaming properties in a database.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein logically associating the first plurality of gaming properties further comprises logically associating the first plurality of gaming properties based at least in part on geographical locations of the first plurality of gaming properties.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein logically associating the first plurality of gaming properties further comprises logically associating the first plurality of gaming properties based at least in part on laws associated with jurisdictions of the first plurality of gaming properties.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the set of permissions in a remote database hosted at a remote server located apart from any of the first plurality of gaming properties.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the patron information includes information indicative of at least one of:

an incentive cash balance, a patron bonus, a patron identifier, a patron cash account balance, a marker payment, a front money balance, or a chip purchase voucher.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the patron identifier comprises a patron account number and an identifier associated with the originating gaming property.

8. A database server for distributing patron information in a gaming network, comprising:

a processor that executes instructions; and

a computer-readable memory that stores instructions that cause the processor to distribute patron information by;

logically associating a first plurality of gaming properties to create a first property group, the first plurality of gaming properties including an originating gaming property and a requesting gaming property;

generating a set of permissions for the first property group;

receiving patron information associated with at least one patron from the originating gaming property;

receiving a request for the patron information from the requesting gaming property;

verifying the request based at least in part on the set of permissions; and

if the request is verified, transmitting the patron information to the requesting gaming property.

9. The database server of claim 8, wherein logically associating the first plurality of gaming properties further comprises logically associating the first plurality of gaming properties based at least in part on geographical locations of the first plurality of gaming properties.

10. The database server of claim 8, wherein logically associating the first plurality of gaming properties further comprises logically associating the first plurality of gaming properties based at least in part on laws associated with jurisdictions of the first plurality of gaming properties.

11. The database server of claim 8, wherein the patron information includes information indicative of at least one of:

an incentive cash balance, a patron bonus, a patron identifier, a patron cash account balance, a marker payment, a front money balance, or a chip purchase voucher.

12. The database server of claim 11, wherein the patron identifier comprises a patron account number and an identifier associated with the originating gaming property.

13. A computer-readable medium that stores instructions that cause a processor to distribute patron information, by:

logically associating a first plurality of gaming properties to create a first property group, the first plurality of gaming properties including an originating gaming property and a requesting gaming property;

generating a set of permissions for the first property group;

receiving patron information associated with at least one patron from the originating gaming property;

receiving a request for the patron information from the requesting gaming property;

verifying the request based at least in part on the set of permissions; and

if the request is verified, transmitting the patron information to the requesting gaming property.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein logically associating the first plurality of gaming properties further comprises logically associating the first plurality of gaming properties in a database.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein logically associating the first plurality of gaming properties further comprises logically associating the first plurality of gaming properties based at least in part on geographical locations of the first plurality of gaming properties.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein logically associating the first plurality of gaming properties further comprises logically associating the first plurality of gaming properties based at least in part on laws associated with jurisdictions of the first plurality of gaming properties.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, where the instructions cause the processor to distribute patron information further by:

storing the set of permissions in a remote database hosted at a remote server located apart from any of the first plurality of gaming properties.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the patron information includes information indicative of at least one of:

an incentive cash balance, a patron bonus, a patron identifier, a patron cash account balance, a marker payment, a front money balance, or a chip purchase voucher.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the patron identifier comprises a patron account number and an identifier associated with the originating gaming property.