GAME PLAY WHILE IN QUEUE FOR ENTRY INTO AN EVENT

• US 20130130786A1
• Filed: 11/16/2012
• Published: 05/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Robbins, Richard B., Guinn, Andrew C., Griffin, Mary, Lang, Harry C., Nelson, Travis N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,777,732 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players

Abstract

A method includes receiving a request for placement in a queue for entry into an event. The method also includes placing the request into the queue. In response to placement of the request into the queue, the method includes presenting, on a device, a game for game play while waiting for the entry into the event. The device comprises at least one of a mobile device, a pager provided in response to requesting the placement in the queue, and a non-mobile gaming device positioned proximate to a location of the event. The method includes determining a prize for the game play of the game. In response to not entering the event, the prize is discarded. In response to entering the event, the prize is awarded.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, a request for placement in a queue for entry into an event;

placing the request into the queue;

in response to placement of the request into the queue, presenting, on a device, a game for game play while waiting for the entry into the event, wherein the device comprises at least one of a mobile device, a pager provided in response to requesting the placement in the queue, and a non-mobile gaming device positioned proximate to a location of the event;

determining a prize for the game play of the game;

in response to not entering the event, discarding the prize; and

in response to entering the event, awarding the prize.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the game play requires an opt-in election, wherein a prize is awarded for the game play, wherein the method comprises:

in response to a winning result of the game play, reassigning the placement to a better position in the queue in comparison to a current position based on the reservation; and

in response to a losing result of the game play, reassigning the placement to a worse position in the queue in comparison to the current position.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the prize is related to the event and that comprises at least one of an upgrade to an experience of the event, a free item provided during the event, and a discounted item provided during the event.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the prize has a limited duration of use, the limitation duration comprising at least one of a completion of the event and a calendar day of when the event occurred.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the prize comprises a dynamic prize that dynamically changes while in the queue, wherein the dynamic prize increases in value over time while in the queue.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the prize comprises unlocked content for a wagering game.

7. A method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, a request for placement in a queue for entry into an event;

placing the request into the queue;

in response to placement of the request into the queue, presenting, on a device, a game for game play while waiting for the entry into the event, wherein the device comprises at least one of a mobile device, a pager provided in response to requesting the placement in the queue, and a non-mobile gaming device positioned proximate to a location of the event;

determining a prize for the game play of the game that is derived from at least one of an actual time in the queue prior to the entry into the event and the actual time in the queue prior to the entry into the event relative to an anticipated time in the queue that was determined at a time of the placing the request into the queue;

in response to not entering the event, discarding the prize; and

in response to entering the event, awarding the prize.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the event comprises a wagering event, wherein the game comprises a version of the wagering event.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the prize is related to the event and that comprises at least one of an upgrade to an experience of the event, a free item provided during the event, and a discounted item provided during the event.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the prize has a limited duration of use, the limitation duration comprising at least one of a completion of the event and a calendar day of when the event occurred.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the prize comprises a dynamic prize that dynamically changes while in the queue, wherein the dynamic prize increases in value over time while in the queue.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the prize comprises unlocked content for a wagering game.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein a person making the request for the placement in the queue was in a previous queue for previous entry into the event at a previous time, wherein a previous prize was output to the person based on entering the event at the previous time, wherein the prize is greater than the previous prize.

14. One or more machine-readable storage media including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving, by the one or more processors, a request for placement in a queue for entry into an event;

placing the request into the queue;

in response to placement of the request into the queue, presenting, on a device, a game for game play while waiting for the entry into the event, wherein the device comprises at least one of a mobile device, a pager provided in response to requesting the placement in the queue, and a non-mobile gaming device positioned proximate to a location of the event;

determining a prize for the game play of the game;

in response to not entering the event, discarding the prize; and

in response to entering the event, awarding the prize.

15. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 14, wherein the game play requires an opt-in election, wherein a prize is awarded for the game play, wherein the operations comprise:

in response to a winning result of the game play, reassigning the placement to a better position in the queue in comparison to a current position based on the reservation; and

in response to a losing result of the game play, reassigning the placement to a worse position in the queue in comparison to the current position.

16. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 14, wherein the prize is related to the event and that comprises at least one of an upgrade to an experience of the event, a free item provided during the event, and a discounted item provided during the event.

17. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 14, wherein the prize has a limited duration of use, the limitation duration comprising at least one of a completion of the event and a calendar day of when the event occurred.

18. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 14, wherein the prize comprises a dynamic prize that dynamically changes while in the queue, wherein the dynamic prize increases in value over time while in the queue.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a check-in module operable on the processor, the check-in module configured to;

receive a request for placement in a queue for entry into an event;

place the request into the queue, wherein in response to placement of the request into the queue, a game is presented, on a device, a game for game play while waiting for the entry into the event, wherein the device comprises at least one of a mobile device, a pager provided in response to requesting the placement into the queue, and a non-mobile gaming device positioned proximate to a location of the event, wherein a prize is determined for the game play of the game that is derived from at least one of an actual time in the queue prior to the entry into the event and the actual time in the queue prior to the entry into the event relative to an anticipated time in the queue that was determined at a time of the placement into the queue;

in response to not entering the event, discard the prize; and

in response to entering the event, award the prize.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the prize has a limited duration of use, the limitation duration comprising at least one of a completion of the event and a calendar day of when the event occurred.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the prize comprises a dynamic prize that dynamically changes while in the queue, wherein the dynamic prize increases in value over time while in the queue.

22. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving, from a mobile device and based on a wireless communication, a request for placement in a queue for game play by a wagering game player of a wagering game machine that is currently being occupied by another for wagering game play;

means for placing the request into the queue;

in response to a determination that the wagering game machine is no longer occupied by another for wagering game play, means for presenting a first option, to the wagering game player for a defined time period on at least one of the mobile device and the wagering game machine, to enable wagering game play for the wagering game machine; and

in response to a determination that the defined time period is expired without game play by the wagering game player to whom the first option is presented, means for performing at least one of the following,

present a second option, to a next wagering game player in the queue to enable wagering game play for the wagering game machine; and

allow access for wagering game play of the wagering game machine by other wagering game players that are not in the queue.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein in response to placement of the request into the queue, a game is presented on the mobile device, the game for game play while waiting for game play on the wagering game machine, wherein a prize is determined for the game play of the game that is derived from at least one of an actual time in the queue prior to the entry into the event and the actual time in the queue prior to the entry into the event relative to an anticipated time in the queue that was determined at a time of the placing the request into the queue, wherein the wagering game machine comprises:

in response to not playing a wagering game on the wagering game machine, means for discarding the prize; and

in response to playing the wagering game on the wagering game machine, means for awarding the prize.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the prize comprises a dynamic prize that dynamically changes while in the queue, wherein the dynamic prize increases in value over time while in the queue.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the prize comprises unlocked content for the wagering game on the one of the at least one wagering game machine.