Virtual player tracking and related services

• US 8,597,116 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2006
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Binh, Wolf, Bryan D., Underdahl, Brian, LeMay, Steven G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Kevin Y
• Application Number:
  US11/497,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20060281541A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,681 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3281 wherein game attributes are transferred between players, e.g. points, weapons, avatars

Abstract

Various gaming-related services are provided, including but not limited to security services, harm minimization services, player identification services, bonusing/progressive services, accounting services, financial/banking services, network tunneling services, cheating detection services, etc. Such services may be provided, at least in part, by software agents that can be configured for different platforms and/or operating systems. Some software-based player tracking methods of the invention can aggregate data from multiple devices used by a player for gaming.

Claims

1. A gaming method, comprising:

installing a first player tracking software agent on a first host device controlled by a first player, the first player tracking software agent having a first unique ID number/code, wherein the first host device is a personal device of a first player;

installing a second player tracking software agent on a second host device, the second player tracking software agent having a second unique ID number/code, wherein the second host device is a personal device of the first player, wherein;

each of the first player tracking software agent and the second player tracking software agent is associated with the first player by associating the first unique ID number/code and the second unique ID number/code with the first player;

each of the first host device and the second host device is a personal digital assistant, cellular telephone or other portable electronic device, wherein each of the first host device and the second host device are not located at a gaming establishment; and

each of the first host device and the second host device is configured to provide game play of wager games through the Internet to the first player;

obtaining, by a processor, from the first player tracking software agent, first gaming information regarding Internet wagering by the player on the first host device;

obtaining, by the processor, from the second player tracking software agent, second gaming information regarding Internet wagering by the player on the second host device;

forming, by the processor, a combination of at least some components of the first gaming information and the second gaming information; and

crediting, by the processor, a player tracking account of the player based on the combination.

2. The gaming method of claim 1, further comprising the step of obtaining, with a processor, from the first player tracking software agent or the second player tracking software agent information about a playing style of the player.

3. The gaming method of claim 2, wherein the playing style is based on at least one of play consistency indicia, reaction time indicia, wagering indicia, length of play indicia, frequency of play indicia, game preference indicia, win frequency indicia, win amount indicia or optimal play indicia of the player.

4. The gaming method of claim 2, further comprising the step of determining whether the first device is being played according to the playing style.

5. The gaming method of claim 4, further comprising the step of invoking countermeasures when it is determined that the first device is not being played according to the playing style.

6. The gaming method of claim 5, wherein the countermeasures comprise at least one of requiring a proper response to a challenge, disabling the first device and sending a message to a game administrator.

7. A gaming method, comprising:

installing a first player tracking software agent on a first host device, the first player tracking software agent having a first unique ID number/code, wherein the first host device is a personal device of a first player;

installing a second player tracking software agent on a second host device, the second player tracking software agent having a second unique ID number/code, wherein the second host device is a personal device of the first player, wherein;

each of the first software agent and the second software agent is associated with the first player by associating the first unique ID number/code and the second unique ID number/code with the first player;

each of the first host device and the second host device is a portable electronic device not located at a gaming establishment;

each of the first host device and the second host device is configured to provide game play of wager games through the Internet to the first player

obtaining, by a processor, from the first player tracking software agent, first gaming information regarding Internet wagering by the first player on the first host device;

obtaining, by the processor, from the second player tracking software agent, second gaming information regarding Internet wagering by the first player on the second host device; and

crediting, by the processor, a player tracking account of the first player based on the first gaming information and the second gaming information.

8. The gaming method of claim 7, further comprising monitoring a heartbeat from a third player tracking software agent.

9. The gaming method of claim 7, wherein a third player tracking software agent monitors a heartbeat from another device.

10. The gaming method of claim 7, further comprising the step of determining third gaming information regarding a second player'"'"'s wagering games on a third device, the determining step being performed at least in part by the first player tracking software agent executing on the first host device.

11. The gaming method of claim 7, further comprising monitoring the first or second gaming information for indicia of cheating.

12. The gaming method of claim 7, wherein a third player tracking software agent provides network access services.

13. The gaming method of claim 7, wherein a third player tracking software agent provides progressive or bonusing services.

14. The gaming method of claim 7, wherein a third player tracking software agent provides accounting services.

15. The gaming method of claim 7, wherein a third player tracking software agent provides financial services.

16. The gaming method of claim 7, wherein a third player tracking software agent provides at least one of auditing and controller services.

17. The gaming method of claim 7, wherein a third player tracking software agent provides licensing services.

18. The gaming method of claim 7, wherein a third player tracking software agent executing on the first device obtains at least some of the first gaming information from the first software agent.

19. The gaming method of claim 8, further comprising the step of initiating countermeasures when an expected heartbeat is not received from the third player tracking software agent.

20. The gaming method of claim 10, further comprising monitoring the third gaming information for indicia of cheating, the monitoring step being performed by the first player tracking software agent.

21. The gaming method of claim 11, wherein the monitoring step is performed by a third player tracking software agent executing on a third device.

22. The gaming method of claim 18, wherein the third player tracking software agent is an advertising software agent, further comprising the step of targeting advertisements to the first player based at least in part on the first gaming information.

23. The gaming method of claim 18, wherein the third player tracking software agent has a higher permission level than that of the first software agent.

24. The gaming method of claim 18, wherein the third player tracking software agent has a lower permission level than that of the first player tracking software agent.

25. A machine-readable medium having software recorded thereon, the software comprising instructions for controlling at least one device in a gaming network to perform the following tasks:

installing a first software agent on a first host device, the first software agent having a first unique ID number/code, wherein the first host device is a personal device of a first player;

installing a second software agent on a second host device, the second software agent having a second unique ID number/code, wherein the second host device is a personal device of the first player, wherein;

each of the first soft ware agent and the second software agent is associated with the first player by associating the first unique ID number/code and the second unique ID number/code with the first player;

each of the first host device and the second host device is a personal digital assistant not located at a gaming establishment; and

each of the first host device and the second host device is configured to provide game play of wager games through the Internet to the first player;

obtaining, by a processor, from the first software agent, first gaming information regarding Internet wagering by the player on the first host device;

obtaining, by the processor, from the first software agent, second gaming information regarding Internet wagering by the player on the second host device;

forming, by the processor, a combination of at least some components of the first gaming information and the second gaming information; and

crediting, by the processor, a player tracking account of the player based on the combination.

26. A machine-readable medium having software recorded thereon, the software comprising instructions for controlling at least one device in a gaming network to perform the following tasks:

installing a first software agent on a first host device, the first software agent having a first unique ID number/code, wherein the first host device is a personal device of a first player;

installing a second software agent on a second host device, the second software agent having a second unique ID number/code, wherein the second host device is a personal device of the first player, wherein;

each of the first software agent and the second software agent is associated with the first player by associating the first unique ID number/code and the second unique ID number/code with the first player;

each of the first host device and the second host device is a cellular telephone not located at a gaming establishment; and

each of the first host device and the second host device is configured to provide game play of wager games through the Internet to the first player;

obtaining, by a processor, from the first player tracking software agent, first gaming information regarding Internet wagering by the player on the first host device;

obtaining, by the processor, from the second player tracking software agent, second gaming information regarding Internet wagering by the player on the second host device; and

crediting, by the processor, a player tracking account of the player based on the first gaming information and the second gaming information.

27. The machine-readable medium of claim 26, the software further comprising instructions for controlling at least one device in a gaming network to monitor a heartbeat from a third player tracking software agent.

28. The machine-readable medium of claim 27, the software further comprising instructions for controlling at least one device in a gaming network to initiate countermeasures when an expected heartbeat is not received from the third player tracking software agent.

29. A server, comprising:

at least one interface configured for receiving gaming information regarding Internet wagering by a player; and

at least one processor configured to do the following;

install a first player tracking software agent on a first host device, the first player tracking software agent having a first unique ID number/code, wherein the first host device is a personal device of a player;

install a second player tracking software agent on a second host device, the second player tracking software agent having a second unique ID number/code, wherein the second host device is a personal device of the player, wherein;

each of the first software agent and the second software agent is associated with the player by associating the first unique ID number/code and the second unique ID number/code with the first player;

each of the first host device and the second host device is a personal digital assistant, cellular telephone or other portable electronic device, wherein the first host device and the second host device are not located at a gaming establishment; and

each of the first host device and the second host device is configured to provide game play of wager games through the Internet to the first player;

obtain, from the first player tracking software agent, first gaming information regarding Internet wagering by the player on the first host device;

obtain, from the second player tracking software agent, second gaming information regarding Internet wagering by the player on the second host device;

form a combination of at least some components of the first gaming information and the second gaming information; and

credit a player tracking account of the player based, at least in part, on the combination.

30. The server of claim 29, wherein at least one processor is further configured to obtain, with a processor, from the first player tracking software agent or the second player tracking software agent information about a first playing style of the player.

31. The server of claim 30, wherein at least one processor is further configured to determine whether the first device is being played according to the first playing style.

32. The server of claim 31, wherein at least one processor is further configured to invoke at least one countermeasure when it is determined that the first device is not being played according to the first playing style.

33. The server of claim 31, wherein the countermeasure comprises at least one of sending a challenge to the first device or sending a message to a game administrator.

34. A server, comprising:

at least one interface configured for communication with a network; and

at least one processor configured to do the following;

install a first player tracking software agent on a first host device, the first player tracking software agent having a first unique ID number/code, wherein the first host device is a personal device of a first player;

install a second player tracking software agent on a second host device, the second player tracking software agent having a second unique ID number/code, wherein the second host device is a personal device of the first player, wherein;

each of the first software agent and the second software agent is associated with the first player by associating the first unique ID number/code and the second unique ID number/code with the first player;

each of the first host device and the second host device is a personal digital assistant, cellular telephone or other portable electronic device, wherein the first host device and the second host device are not located at a gaming establishment; and

each of the first host device and the second host device is configured to provide game play of wager games through the Internet to the first player;

receive, via the interface, from the first player tracking software agent, first gaming information regarding Internet wagering by the player on a first host device;

receive, via the interface, from the second player tracking software agent, second gaming information regarding Internet wagering by the player on a second host device;

credit a player tracking account of the player based on the first gaming information and the second gaming information.

35. The server of claim 34, wherein at least one processor is further configured to monitor a heartbeat from a third software agent.

36. The server of claim 34, wherein at least one processor is further configured to monitor the first or second gaming information for indicia of cheating.

37. The server of claim 34, wherein at least one processor is further configured to initiate countermeasures when an expected heartbeat is not received from the third software agent.

38. A gaming network, comprising:

a first device configured for providing first gaming information regarding Internet wagering by a player on the first host device, wherein the first device is a personal device of the player;

a second device configured for providing second gaming information regarding Internet wagering by the player on the second host device, wherein the second device is a personal device of the player; and

at least one server, comprising;

at least one interface configured for communication with the gaming network; and

at least one processor configured to do the following;

install a first player tracking software agent on the first device, the first player tracking software agent having a first unique ID number/code;

install a second player tracking software agent on the second device, the second player tracking software agent having a second unique ID number/code, wherein;

 

each of the first software agent and the second software agent is associated with a player by associating the first unique ID number/code and the second unique ID number/code with the first player;

 

each of the first device and the second device is a personal digital assistant, cellular telephone or other portable electronic device not located at a gaming establishment, and

 

each of the first device and the second device is configured to provide game play of wager games through the Internet to the first player;

obtain, from the first player tracking software agent, first gaming information regarding Internet wagering by the player on the first device;

obtain, from the second player tracking software agent, second gaming information regarding Internet wagering by the player on the second device;

form a combination from at least some components of the first gaming information and the second gaming information; and

credit a player tracking account of the player based on the combination.