System and method for wireless gaming system with alerts

• US 8,506,400 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2009
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interactive Games LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Inventors: Amaitis, Lee M., Asher, Joseph M., Bahrampour, Robert F., Mylet, Darrin M., Wilkins, Alan B., Lutnick, Howard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEICHLITER, CHASE E
• Application Number:
  US12/647,887
• Publication Number:
  US 20100099499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: 463 39- 43, 463/25, 463/29, 701/213, 342/357.13, 340/996, 340/993, 340/988
• US Class Current: 463/39
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine

Abstract

A gaming system is provided. The 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 a user location determination feature to prevent users from conducting transactions from unauthorized areas. The system may include an alerts feature operable to generate alert to users based on any or a combination of time information, location information, financial information, user profile information, and other types of information.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the at least one processor, direct the at least one processor to;

determine a first location of a first mobile gaming device of a first user, the first mobile gaming device being operable to make a plurality of gaming activities available to the first user for play via the first mobile gaming device;

determine that the first user is engaged in a gaming activity at the first location;

determine a change in location of a second mobile gaming device of a second user;

responsive at least to (a) determining a change in location of the second mobile gaming device and (b) determining that the first user is engaged in the gaming activity at the first location, generate an alert comprising information about the first location of the first mobile gaming device; and

cause the alert to be output at the second mobile gaming device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alert comprises an invitation to participate in the gaming activity.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alert information comprises an invitation to place a bet.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the instructions, when executed, further direct the at least one processor to:

determine that the first location is near to a location where a service is provided; and

responsive to determining that the first location of the first user is near to the location where a service is provided, transmit to the first mobile gaming device a promotional announcement comprising an advertisement for the service.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to transmit a second alert to the second user, the second alert comprises at least one of:

(1) scheduling information regarding an upcoming event;

(2) information determined based on a financial status of the first user;

(3) information about betting limits at a gaming table; and

(4) information regarding odds associated with a gambling opportunity.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alert comprises at least one of an audible signal, a verbal message, a textual message, and a graphical display on a display screen of the second mobile gaming device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, directs the at least one processor to determine a priority between a second alert and a third alert, wherein the second alert and the third alert are provided to the first user at least partially according to the priority, and wherein the second alert is provided in a first format, and wherein the third alert is provided in a second format different from the first format.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gaming activity comprises an gaming activity played at a physical game area at a physical location.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to receive from the first user one or more parameters for triggering transmission of the alert to a mobile gaming device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the instructions, when executed, further direct the at least one processor to transmit information to the second mobile gaming device based on a placement of a bet by the first user.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the instructions, when executed, further direct the at least one processor to transmit information to the second mobile gaming device based on a selection of an activity by the first user on the first gaming device.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the instructions, when executed, further direct the at least one processor to transmit information to the second mobile gaming device based on a size of a bet in a game.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the instructions, when executed, further direct the at least one processor to transmit information to the second mobile gaming device based on an arrival of the first user at a specific location.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the instructions, when executed, further direct the at least one processor to transmit information to the second mobile gaming device based on a departure of the first user from a specific location.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alert comprises directional information comprising directions from a location of the second user to a location associated with the gaming activity, in which the first user is engaged in the first gaming activity at a time when the alert is output at the second mobile gaming device.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the act of determining the change in location of a second mobile gaming device comprises at least one of:

(1) determining that the second user has left a second location that is different from the first location;

(2) determining that the second user has entered the first location; and

(3) determining that the second user has entered a second location that is different from the first location.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the alert comprises directions from a current location of the second user determined by the at least one processor to at least one of:

(1) an event;

(2) a current location of the first user determined by the at least one processor; and

(3) a location of a gaming table in a casino.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the second mobile gaming device comprises a display screen, and in which the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to cause the display screen to display information about a location of the first user.

18. The apparatus of 1, in which the alert comprises information about a specific gaming table of a casino, and in which the first location of the first gaming device comprises a location at the specific gaming table.

20. A method comprising:

determining, by at least one processor, a first location of a first mobile gaming device of a first user, the first mobile gaming device being operable to make a plurality of gaming activities available to the first user for play via the first mobile gaming device, the first mobile gaming device being in electronic communication with the at least one processor;

determining, by the at least one processor, that the first user is engaged in a gaming activity at the first location;

determining, by the at least one processor, a change in location of a second mobile gaming device of a second user;

responsive at least to (a) determining a change in location of the second mobile gaming device and (b) determining that the first user is engaged in the gaming activity at the first location, generating, by the at least one processor, an alert comprising information about the first location of the first mobile gaming device; and

transmitting the alert to the second mobile gaming device for presentation to the second user.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

a non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions configured to cause at least one processor to;

determine a first location of a first mobile gaming device of a first user, the first mobile gaming device being operable to make a plurality of gaming activities available to the first user for play via the first mobile gaming device;

determine that the first user is engaged in a gaming activity at the first location;

determine a change in location of a second mobile gaming device of a second user;

responsive at least to (a) determining a change in location of the second mobile gaming device and (b) determining that the first user is engaged in the gaming activity at the first location, generate an alert comprising information about the first location of the first mobile gaming device; and

cause the alert to be output at the second mobile gaming device.