Player tracking using a wireless device for a casino property

• US 9,373,116 B1
• Filed: 11/30/2007
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEXRF Corp.
• Original Assignee: NEXRF Corp.
• Inventors: Kerr, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): D'Agostino, Paul A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gray, Brandon
• Application Number:
  US11/948,007
• Time in Patent Office: 3,126 Days
• Field of Search: 463/10, 463/29, 463/40, 463/42
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
• 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: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A method for tracking patronage of a customer in at least one casino property is described. The method comprises monitoring a wireless handset that determines the location of the customer. The method then proceeds to generate a user profile that comprises user preferences and monitored betting activity associated with the customer and accumulated points stored in a customer account according to a monetary value of the monitored betting activity. Complementary goods or services are determined based on the accumulated points associated with the customer account. A message is sent to the wireless handset associated with the complementary goods or services that is consistent with the user preferences.

Claims

1. An interactive gaming system for a casino property, the interactive gaming system comprising:

a wireless device associated with a registered user, wherein the wireless device is used to determine a location of the registered user and the wireless device communicates with a network using at least one wireless networking protocol;

a verification system that accesses a registration database having registration data associated with each registered user;

a centralized gaming server communicatively coupled to the wireless device, the centralized gaming server generates at least one random game outcome;

a memory module that stores a plurality of images corresponding to the at least one game outcome that are communicated to the wireless device;

the centralized gaming server accesses the memory module and communicates the plurality of images corresponding to the random game outcome to the wireless device; and

a casino player tracking system that includes,

a registered user profile that further includes a plurality of user preferences,

a record of a plurality of accumulated points associated with a betting activity of the registered user, wherein the betting activity is associated with the random outcomes generated by the centralized gaming server,

at least one complimentary good or service corresponding to the accumulated points associated with the registered user; and

a plurality of messages generated by the casino player tracking system for the wireless device regarding the complementary goods or services.

2. The interactive gaming system of claim 1 further comprising an intermediary server that is communicatively coupled to the casino player tracking system and the wireless device, the intermediary server determines the location of the registered user and the intermediary server receives a plurality of user profile preferences;

wherein the casino player tracking system is communicatively coupled to at least one of a plurality of slot machines, a plurality of gaming tables, a plurality of restaurants, a plurality of retail sales locations; and

wherein the intermediary server is configured to filter the plurality of messages generated by the casino player tracking system based on the location of the registered user and the user profile preferences.

3. The interactive gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one registered user profile includes a biometric.

4. The interactive gaming system of claim 2 wherein the registered user profile comprises a field that permits the location of the registered user to be tracked.

5. The interactive gaming system of claim 4 wherein the message sent to the wireless handset is dependent on the location of the customer.

6. The interactive gaming system of claim 1 further comprising an automated message that is sent when a sensor is triggered.

7. The interactive gaming system of claim 1 further comprising an automated message that is sent when the registered user is in a particular location.

8. An interactive gaming system for a casino property, the interactive gaming comprising:

a wireless device associated with a registered user, wherein the wireless device is used to determine a location of the registered user and the wireless device communicates with a network using at least one wireless networking protocol;

a verification system that accesses a registration database having registration data associated with each registered user;

a centralized gaming server communicatively coupled to the wireless device, the centralized gaming server generates at least one random game outcome;

a memory module that stores a plurality of images corresponding to the at least one game outcome that are communicated to the wireless device;

the centralized gaming server accesses the memory module and communicates the plurality of images corresponding to the random game outcome to the wireless device;

a casino player tracking server that includes,

a registered user profile that further includes a plurality of user preferences,

a record of a plurality of accumulated points associated with a betting activity of the registered user, wherein the betting activity is associated with the random outcomes generated by the centralized gaming server,

at least one complimentary good or service corresponding to the accumulated points associated with the registered user;

a plurality of messages generated by the casino player tracking server for the wireless device regarding the complementary goods or services;

an intermediary server that is communicatively coupled to the casino player tracking server and the wireless device, wherein the intermediary server determines the location of the registered user and the intermediary server receives a plurality of user profile preferences; and

wherein the intermediary server is configured to filter the plurality of messages generated by the casino player tracking system based on the location of the registered user and the user profile preferences.

9. The interactive gaming system of claim 8 wherein the casino player tracking system is communicatively coupled to at least one of a plurality of slot machines, a plurality of gaming tables, a plurality of restaurants, a plurality of retail sales locations.

10. The interactive gaming system of claim 8, wherein at least one registered user profile includes a biometric.

11. The interactive gaming system of claim 8 wherein the registered user profile comprises a field that permits the location of the user to be tracked.

12. The interactive gaming system of claim 8 further comprising an automated message that is sent when a sensor is triggered.

13. An interactive gaming method for a casino property, the interactive gaming method comprising:

determining a location of a wireless device associated with a registered user with an intermediary server, wherein the wireless device communicates with a network using at least one wireless networking protocol and the wireless device is communicatively coupled to the intermediary server;

accessing a registration database having registration data associated with each registered user;

generating at least one random game outcome at a centralized gaming server that is communicatively coupled to the wireless device;

storing a plurality of images at a memory module, wherein the plurality of images correspond to the at least one game outcome that is communicated to the wireless device;

communicating the plurality of images corresponding to the random game outcome to the wireless device after the centralized gaming server accesses the memory module; and

generating a plurality of messages with a casino player tracking system that is communicatively coupled to the intermediary server, wherein the messages are associated with the complementary goods or services, the casino player tracking system includes,

a registered user profile that further includes a plurality of user preferences,

a record of a plurality of accumulated points associated with a betting activity of the registered user, wherein the betting activity is associated with the random outcomes generated by the centralized gaming server, and

at least one complimentary good or service corresponding to the accumulated points associated with the registered user; and

receiving a plurality of the user profile preferences at the intermediary server, which is communicatively coupled to the casino player tracking system and the wireless device; and

filtering the plurality of messages generated by the casino player tracking system based on the location of the registered user and the user profile preference with the intermediary server.

14. The interactive gaming method of claim 13 wherein the message generated by the casino player tracking system is communicated by an intermediary server based on the location of the user and the registered user profile, wherein the intermediary server determines the location of the user.

15. The interactive gaming method of claim 13 wherein the casino player tracking system is communicatively coupled to at least one of a plurality of slot machines, a plurality of gaming tables, a plurality of restaurants, a plurality of retail sales locations.

16. The interactive gaming method of claim 13, wherein each registered user profile includes an activity points field.

17. The interactive gaming method of claim 13 wherein the registered user profile comprises a field that permits the location of the user to be tracked.

18. The interactive gaming method of claim 13 further comprising sending an automated message when a sensor is triggered.

19. The interactive gaming method of claim 13 further comprising verifying the registered user profile with a biometric.

20. The interactive gaming method of claim 13 further comprising sending the message to the wireless handset based on the location, the plurality of accumulated points and the user profile.