SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONVENIENCE GAMING

• US 20120289319A1
• Filed: 07/30/2012
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Interactive Games LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: Interactive Games LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Inventors: Amaitis, Lee M., Asher, Joseph M., Lutnick, Howard W., Mylet, Darrin M., Wilkins, Alan B.
• Application Number:
  US13/561,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20120289319A1
• 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 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00

Abstract

A convenience gaming system is provided. The convenience 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 features to ensure that users are not permitted to participate in gambling activities if users communicate with the system through parts of system infrastructure located close enough to pick up or send signals across state lines or beyond authorized areas.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

responsive to a user using a device owned by the user to access a gaming system to engage in at least one gaming activity, (1) authenticating the user, (2) authenticating the device, and (3) determining whether the user'"'"'s device is located within a pre-defined location; and

allowing the user to engage in the at least one gaming activity from the user'"'"'s device based upon (1) the authentication of the user, (2) the authentication of the device, and (3) the determination that the user'"'"'s device is located in the pre-defined location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user'"'"'s device comprises a mobile phone.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user'"'"'s device is a PDA.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one gaming activities include at least one wagering activity and at least one non-wagering activity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one gaming activity is sports betting.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the user'"'"'s device is located within a pre-defined location includes making the determination upon initial access by the user to the at least one server.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

at pre-defined time intervals after the initial access, determining whether the user'"'"'s device is still located within the pre-defined location; and

continuing to allow the user to engage in the at least one gaming activity from the user'"'"'s device based upon the determination that the user'"'"'s device is still located in the pre-defined location.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the user'"'"'s device is located within the pre-defined location includes making the determination through the use of geo-fencing.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the user'"'"'s device is located within the pre-defined location includes making the determination through the use of triangulation.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the user'"'"'s device is located within the pre-defined location includes making the determination through the use of multilateration.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the user'"'"'s device is located within the pre-defined location includes making the determination through an identification of which network, portion of a network, or network component the user'"'"'s device is accessing.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the identification indicates at least one of a base station, group of base stations, a line, a channel, a trunk, a switch, a router, and a repeater.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the user'"'"'s device is located within the pre-defined location includes making the determination through the use of GPS.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein determining whether the user'"'"'s device is located within the pre-defined location includes:

receiving the location of the user'"'"'s device; and

based upon the location, determining whether the user'"'"'s device is located within the pre-defined location.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the location of the user'"'"'s device comprises receiving the location from the user'"'"'s device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-defined location comprises at least two geographically separate locations.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing to the user on the user'"'"'s device real time odds.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing to the user on the user'"'"'s device sports video.