System and method for collecting and using player information

• US 8,585,503 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2008
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games Corporation
• Original Assignee: Scientific Games Corporation
• Inventors: Herrmann, Mark E., Hardy, Dow K., Acres, John F., Taylor, John E. Jr., Weller, Scott N., Lichtenberger, Francis Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Jae
• Assistant Examiner(s): WITHERS, GRANT S
• Application Number:
  US12/345,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20090176578A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,786 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players

Abstract

A distributed computer system is provided for collecting player information. Further, a scoring system is provided that rates a player based on one or more elements of the collected information. Players may be rated with respect to a number of characteristics. Responsive to a determined rating or score, action may be taken by the distributed system with regard to the player. For instance, the player may be provided a complimentary offer, provided an award, and invitation to come to a gambling location, presented an advertisement, or other action may be performed involving the player. Further, the distributed computer system may permit a player to manage their frequent player accounts and receive complimentary offers based on a set of criteria specified by the player.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for collecting player information, comprising acts of:

receiving performance information relating to at least one player from a plurality of independent organizations comprising separate gaming establishments, advertising networks, or consumer websites, or combinations thereof;

determining a rating of the at least one player based at least in part on the received performance information;

extending an offer to the player based on the determined rating;

wherein players accumulate points in a frequent player account for activities at gaming establishments; and

further providing for players to execute a trading of frequent player points between a plurality of players.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the performance information is received from the plurality of independent organizations by accessing a frequent player account associated with at least one of the plurality of independent organizations.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of collecting demographic information related to the player.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of collecting behavioral information related to the player.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising an act of collecting data regarding online activity of the player.

6. The method according to claim 4, further comprising an act of collecting data regarding offline activity of the player.

7. The method according to claim 4, further comprising an act of collecting data directly from the player.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the performance information includes frequent player account information, and wherein the act of determining a rating of the player further comprises acts of:

determining a rate of change in frequent player account points awarded to the player; and

determining the rating based on the determined rate of change.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the rate of change in frequent player account points is determined to be indicative of a rate of play by the player.

10. The computer system according to claim 8, wherein the rate of change in frequent player account points is determined to be indicative of a rate of play by the player.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the performance information includes win/loss statement information, and wherein the act of determining a rating of the player further comprises acts of:

determining an overall win/loss performance based on a plurality of win/loss statements collected from the plurality of independent organizations; and

determining the rating based on the determined overall win/loss performance.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the performance information includes loyalty account information, and wherein the method further comprises an act of receiving loyalty account information from one or more loyalty account systems.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that when executed on a processor performs a method for collecting player information in a distributed computer system, the method comprising acts of:

receiving performance information relating to at least one player from a plurality of independent organizations comprising separate gaming establishments, advertising networks, or consumer websites, or combinations thereof;

determining a rating of the at least one player based at least in part on the received performance information;

extending an offer to the player based on the determined rating;

wherein players accumulate points in a frequent player account for activities at gaming establishments; and

further providing for players to execute a trading of frequent player points between a plurality of players.

14. The computer-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the performance information is received from the plurality of independent organizations by accessing a frequent player account associated with at least one of the plurality of independent organizations.

15. The computer-readable medium according to claim 13, further comprising an act of collecting demographic information related to the player.

16. The computer-readable medium according to claim 13, further comprising an act of collecting behavioral information related to the player.

17. The computer-readable medium according to claim 16, further comprising an act of collecting data regarding online activity of the player.

18. The computer-readable medium according to claim 16, further comprising an act of collecting data regarding offline activity of the player.

19. The computer-readable medium according to claim 16, further comprising an act of collecting data directly from the player.

20. The computer-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the performance information includes frequent player account information, and wherein the act of determining a rating of the player further comprises acts of:

determining a rate of change in frequent player account points awarded to the player; and

determining the rating based on the determined rate of change.

21. The computer-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the performance information includes win/loss statement information, and wherein the act of determining a rating of the player further comprises acts of:

determining an overall win/loss performance based on a plurality of win/loss statements collected from the plurality of independent organizations; and

determining the rating based on the determined overall win/loss performance.

22. The computer-readable medium according to claim 20, wherein the rate of change in frequent player account points is determined to be indicative of a rate of play by the player.

23. A computer system comprising:

a component adapted to receive performance relating to at least one player from a plurality of independent organizations comprising separate gaming establishments, advertising networks, or consumer websites, or combinations thereof;

a component adapted to determine a rating of the at least one player based at least in part on the received performance information;

a component adapted to extend an offer to the player based on the determined rating; and

a component configured to execute trading of frequent player points between a plurality of players.

24. The computer system according to claim 23, wherein the performance information is received from the plurality of independent organizations by accessing a frequent player account associated with at least one of the plurality of independent organizations.

25. The computer system according to claim 23, further comprising a component adapted to collect demographic information related to the player.

26. The computer system according to claim 23, further comprising a component adapted to collect behavioral information related to the player.

27. The computer system according to claim 26, further comprising a component adapted to collect data regarding online activity of the player.

28. The computer system according to claim 26, further comprising a component adapted to collect data regarding offline activity of the player.

29. The computer system according to claim 26, further comprising a component adapted to collect data directly from the player.

30. The computer system according to claim 23, wherein the performance information includes frequent player account information, and wherein the component adapted to determine a rating of the player further comprises:

a component adapted to determine a rate of change in frequent player account points awarded to the player; and

a component adapted to determine the rating based on the determined rate of change.

31. The computer system according to claim 23, wherein the performance information includes win/loss statement information, and wherein the component adapted to determining a rating of the player further comprises:

a component adapted to determine an overall win/loss performance based on a plurality of win/loss statements collected from the plurality of independent organizations; and

a component adapted to determine the rating based on the determined overall win/loss performance.