GAMING SYSTEM, GAMING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR UTILIZING MOBILE DEVICES AT A GAMING ESTABLISHMENT

• US 20180075697A1
• Filed: 11/15/2017
• Published: 03/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Shorrock, Michael, Baerlocher, Anthony J., Nicely, Mark C.
• Granted Patent: US 10,515,513 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• 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 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A gaming system which facilitates the two-way communication between mobile devices, such as mobile phones, and different gaming system components to enhance a player'"'"'s gaming experience.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

communicate first data which results in a display device of a mobile device displaying a service window including first information associated with a player, wherein the service window is separate from any game displayed by the display device of the mobile device, and

responsive to a modification of said first information associated with the player, communicate second data which results in the display device of the mobile device displaying the service window including modified first information associated with the player.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor comprises a tournament manager processor.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first information comprises a first tournament status of the player and the modified first information comprises a second, different tournament status of the player.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor comprises a gaming establishment reservation system processor.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first information comprises an open reservation and the modified first information comprises an accepted reservation associated with the player.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor comprises a player tracking system processor.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first information comprises a first benefit available to the player and the modified first information comprises a second, different benefit available to the player.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first data and the second data are wirelessly communicated to the mobile device via a wireless network.

9. The system of claim 1, which includes an acceptor, and a cashout device, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to:

responsive to a physical item being received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, and responsive to a cashout input being received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.

10. A method of operating a system, said method comprising:

communicating first data, by a processor, which results in a display device of a mobile device displaying a service window including first information associated with a player, wherein the service window is separate from any game displayed by the display device of the mobile device, and

responsive to a modification of said first information associated with the player, communicating second data, by the processor, which results in the display device of the mobile device displaying the service window including modified first information associated with the player.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first information comprises a first tournament status of the player and the modified first information comprises a second, different tournament status of the player.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first information comprises an open reservation and the modified first information comprises an accepted reservation associated with the player.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first information comprises a first benefit available to the player and the modified first information comprises a second, different benefit available to the player.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein a credit balance is increasable based on any awards associated with any plays of any displayed games, said credit balance being increasable via an acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetary value, and said credit balance being decreasable via a cashout device.

15. The method of claim 10, which is provided through a data network.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the data network is one of:

an internet and a wireless data network.