OPT-IN PROXIMITY ALERT

• US 20140171206A1
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Kelly, Sean P., Brundage, Donald E., Khanna, Venkatesh A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,894,493 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players

Abstract

A method for alerting a player about a wagering game machine is described herein. In some embodiments, the method can include determining that a wagering game machine is in proximity to the handheld computing device. The method can further include indicating that the wagering game machine is in proximity to the handheld computing device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for alerting a player about a wagering game machine, the method comprising:

determining, by one or more processors, that the wagering game machine is in proximity to a handheld computing device carried by the player; and

indicating, on one or more of the handheld computing device and the wagering game machine, that the wagering game machine is in proximity to the handheld computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the handheld computing device, a request to present media identifying the wagering game machine among other wagering game machines.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, to the handheld computing device, location information for use in locating the wagering game machine.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the location information includes one or more of coordinates locating the wagering game machine on a predefined grid, a direction in which the wagering game machine is located with respect to the handheld computing device, and a distance between the wagering game machine and the handheld computing device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicating that the wagering game machine is in proximity to the handheld computing device comprises one or more of illuminating a light, emitting a sound, and presenting media on the handheld computing device.

6. A method for alerting a player about a wagering game machine, the method comprising:

determining that a handheld computing device is in proximity to the wagering game machine;

determining, by one or more processors, that one or more characteristics of the wagering game machine correspond to one or more gaming preferences associated with the player, wherein the handheld computing device is accessible to the player; and

indicating that the handheld computing device is in proximity to the wagering game machine.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving, from the handheld computing device, a request to present media identifying the wagering game machine among other wagering game machines.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

transmitting, to the handheld computing device, location information for use in locating the wagering game machine.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the location information includes one or more of coordinates locating the wagering game machine on a predefined grid, a direction in which the wagering game machine is located with respect to the handheld computing device, and a distance between the wagering game machine and the handheld computing device.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the characteristics of the wagering game machine include one or more of game type, game theme, denominations, bonus game type, payout ratio, and recent jackpots.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

transmitting, to the handheld computing device, characteristic information, wherein the characteristic information includes the one or more characteristics of the wagering game machine that correspond to the one or more gaming preferences associated with the player.

12. A method for alerting a player about a wagering game machine, the method comprising:

determining, by one or more processors, gaming preferences of a player, wherein the player is associated with a handheld computing device;

determining that one or more characteristics of the wagering game machine correspond to one or more of the player'"'"'s gaming preferences; and

causing presentation to the player of an indication that the wagering game machine is in proximity to the handheld computing device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the player'"'"'s gaming preferences can be configured via the handheld computing device.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

presenting, via the handheld computing device, an alert to the player, wherein information in the alert can be pre-selected by the player.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the player is alerted based on player-defined gaming preferences.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

presenting, at the handheld computing device, a graphical user interface (GUI) for receiving player input indicating the player'"'"'s gaming preferences; and

receiving, at the handheld computing device, the player input indicating the player'"'"'s gaming preferences.

17. An apparatus for alerting a player about a wagering game machine, the apparatus comprising:

means for determining that a handheld computing device is in proximity to the wagering game machine;

means for determining that one or more characteristics of the wagering game machine correspond to one or more gaming preferences associated with the player, wherein the handheld computing device is accessible to the player; and

means for indicating that the handheld computing device is in proximity to the wagering game machine.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the means for indicating that the handheld computing device is in proximity to the wagering game machine further comprises one or more of illuminating a light, emitting a sound, and presenting an alert on the handheld computing device.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for transmitting, to the handheld computing device, location information for use in locating the wagering game machine.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the location information includes one or more of coordinates locating the wagering game machine on a predefined grid, a direction in which the wagering game machine is located with respect to the handheld computing device, and a distance between the wagering game machine and the handheld computing device.

21. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

an alert controller configured to, via the processor,

determine that a wagering game machine is in proximity to a handheld computing device,

determine that one or more characteristics of the wagering game machine correspond to one or more gaming preferences associated with a player, wherein the handheld computing device is accessible to the player; and

indicate that the wagering game machine is in proximity to the handheld computing device.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the alert controller is further configured to, via the processor, receive location information for use in locating the wagering game machine.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the location information includes one or more of coordinates locating the wagering game machine on a predefined grid, a direction in which the wagering game machine is located with respect to the handheld computing device, and a distance between the wagering game machine and the handheld computing device.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the alert controller is further configured to, via the processor, transmit location information for use in locating the wagering game machine.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the location information includes one or more of coordinates locating the wagering game machine on a predefined grid, a direction in which the wagering game machine is located with respect to the handheld computing device, and a distance between the wagering game machine and the handheld computing device.