Portable data unit for communicating with gaming machine over wireless link
First Claim
1. A method of operating a gaming terminal, comprising:
- establishing a wireless transmission link with a portable data unit carried by an individual, the portable data unit storing information associated with the individual;
transmitting the information associated with the individual to the gaming terminal;
in response to the transmitting changing the operation of the gaming terminal to a first mode associated with the individual or a second mode associated with the individual depending upon at least one of (i) a distance between the portable data unit and the gaming terminal and (ii) a period of time for which the portable data unit is detected as being in the presence of the gaming terminal, the first mode being different from the second mode.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and arrangement for communicating with a gaming machine is disclosed. The gaming machine includes a first wireless transceiver. A portable data unit includes a second wireless transceiver. In response to positioning the portable data unit in proximity to the gaming machine, without inserting the portable data unit into any portion of the gaming machine, a wireless transmission link is established between the first and second wireless transceivers. The wireless transmission link may, for example, be a radio (RF) link or an infrared (IR) link. Information is transmitted between the portable data unit and the gaming machine via the wireless transmission link for such purposes as cashless gaming, player tracking, game customization, and data transfer.
152 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of operating a gaming terminal, comprising:
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establishing a wireless transmission link with a portable data unit carried by an individual, the portable data unit storing information associated with the individual; transmitting the information associated with the individual to the gaming terminal; in response to the transmitting changing the operation of the gaming terminal to a first mode associated with the individual or a second mode associated with the individual depending upon at least one of (i) a distance between the portable data unit and the gaming terminal and (ii) a period of time for which the portable data unit is detected as being in the presence of the gaming terminal, the first mode being different from the second mode.
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2. A method of operating a gaming machine, comprising:
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detecting, via the gaming machine, the presence of a passerby proximate to the gaming machine, the passerby not playing the gaming machine, the detecting including establishing a wireless transmission link between a first wireless transceiver in the gaming machine and a second wireless transceiver disposed in a portable data unit carried by the passerby, the portable data unit including information for allowing an identity of the passerby to be determined; in response to detecting the presence of the passerby by at least one of detecting the presence of the passerby within a first predetermined distance of the gaming machine or detecting the presence of the passerby for at least a first predetermined period of time, operating the gaming machine in a first mode associated with the passerby; and in response to detecting the presence of the passerby by at least one of detecting the presence of the passerby within a second predetermined distance of the gaming machine or detecting the presence of the passerby for at least a second predetermined period of time, operating the gaming machine in a second mode associated with the passerby, the second mode being different from the first mode, the second predetermined distance being different from the first predetermined distance, the second predetermined period of time being different from the first predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating a gaming machine, comprising:
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detecting, via the gaming machine, the presence of a first passerby by at least one of detecting the presence of the passerby within a first predetermined distance of the gaming machine or detecting the presence of the passerby for at least a first predetermined period of time, the passerby not interacting with the gaming machine; in response to the detecting the presence of the first passerby, modifying the operation of the gaming machine according to an attract mode specific to the first passerby based on first information wirelessly communicated between the gaming machine and a first portable data unit carried by the first passerby; detecting, via the gaming machine, the presence of a second passerby by at least one of detecting the presence of the passerby within a second predetermined distance of the gaming machine or detecting the presence of the passerby for at least a second predetermined period of time, the second predetermined distance being different from the first predetermined distance, the second predetermined period of time being different from the first predetermined period of time; in response to the detecting the second passerby, modifying the operation of the gaming machine according to a play mode specific to the second passerby based on second information wirelessly communicated between the gaming machine and a second portable data unit carried by the second passerby. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of operating a gaming terminal, comprising:
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in response to wirelessly detecting the presence of a passerby by at least one of detecting the presence of the passerby within a first predetermined distance of the gaming terminal or detecting the presence of the passerby for at least a first predetermined period of time, operating the gaming terminal in a first mode associated with the passerby such that the gaming terminal interacts with the passerby in a first manner; and in response to wirelessly detecting the presence of the passerby by at least one of detecting the presence of the passerby within a second predetermined distance of the gaming terminal or detecting the presence of the passerby for at least a second predetermined period of time, operating the gaming terminal in a second mode associated with the passerby such that the gaming terminal interacts with the passerby in a second manner different from the first manner. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification