US 10,515,511 B2Granted

Network based control of electronic devices for gaming

AssigneeInteractive Games LLC

InventorsLee M. Amaitis, Joseph M. Asher, Robert E. Bahrampour, Darrin M. Mylet, Alan B. Wilkins, Howard W. Lutnick

Life of this patent

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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 gaming system may incorporate a user profile feature according to which certain information regarding users of the system may be maintained. Such information can include, without limitation, information relating to preferences, finances, activities participated in by the users, and trends and habits of the users.

Claims30

Dependent claims

An apparatus for use in an electronic gaming system that supports multiple users, the apparatus comprising:

at least one sensor for detecting location;
a display for displaying graphical information to a user of the apparatus;
at least one processor electronically coupled to the at least one sensor and the display;
a memory electronically coupled to the at least processor and having software instructions stored thereon that when executed by the at least one processor direct the at least one processor to:
responsive at least in part to an action by a user of the apparatus, communicate via a communications network to a server a request to initiate a gaming session, wherein the gaming session enables the user to play one or more of a plurality of game activities;
in connection with initiating the gaming session, obtain location data from the sensor and communicate the location data obtained from the sensor to the server via the communications network, wherein the server uses the location data obtained from the sensor to determine whether the apparatus is located within a predefined area from which gaming is permitted or is located in a predefined area from which gaming is not permitted;
when the server determines that the apparatus is located within the predefined area from which gaming is not permitted, configure the apparatus such that the user is not able to select the game activities for play via the apparatus;
and
when the server determines that the apparatus is located within the predefined area from gaming is permitted, configure the apparatus to present to the user a gaming environment that enables the user to select from game activities for play, wherein to configure the apparatus to present the gaming environment includes to:
determine whether there is a stored indication of a last one of the game activities accessed by the user during a prior gaming session;
when there is no stored indication, present via the display the gaming environment to the user;
when there is a stored indication, modify the gaming environment to indicate the last one of the game activities accessed by the user;
and
present via the display the modified gaming environment to the user.

11 more elements

An apparatus for supporting multiple users in electronic gaming, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;
a memory electronically coupled to the at least processor and having software instructions stored thereon that when executed by the at least one processor direct the at least one processor to:
responsive at least in part to an action by a user of an electronic device in use by the user, receive via a communications network from the electronic device a request to initiate a gaming session, wherein the gaming session enables the user to play one or more of a plurality of game activities via the electronic device;
in connection with initiating the gaming session, receive via the communications network from the electronic device location data;
based at least in part on the received location data, determine whether the electronic device is located within a predefined area from which gaming is permitted or is located in a predefined area from which gaming is not permitted;
when the electronic device is located within the predefined area from which gaming is not permitted, communicate game disablement information via the communications network to the electronic device, wherein the game disablement information causes the electronic device to be configured such that the user is not able to play the game activities via the electronic device;
when the electronic device is located within the predefined area from which gaming is permitted, initiate the gaming session, wherein to initiate the gaming session includes to:
determine whether there is a stored indication of a last one of the game activities accessed by the user during a prior gaming session;
when there is no stored indication, generate first information instructing the electronic device to present to the user a gaming environment that enables the user to select from the game activities for play;
communicate via the communications network the first information to the electronic device, the first information causing the electronic device to present via a display of the electronic device the gaming environment to the user;
when there is a stored indication, generate second information instructing the electronic device to present to the user a modified gaming environment that indicates to the user the last one of the game activities accessed by the user;
and
communicate via the communications network the second information to the electronic device, the second information causing the electronic device to present via the display of the electronic device the modified gaming environment to the user.

10 more elements

An apparatus for supporting multiple users in electronic gaming, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;
a memory electronically coupled to the at least processor and having software instructions stored thereon that when executed by the at least one processor direct the at least one processor to:
responsive at least in part to an action by a user of an electronic device in use by the user, receive via a communications network from the electronic device a request to initiate a gaming session, wherein the gaming session enables the user to play one or more of a plurality of game activities via the electronic device;
in connection with initiating the gaming session, receive via the communications network from the electronic device location data;
based at least in part on the received location data, determine whether the electronic device is located within a predefined area from which gaming is permitted or is located in a predefined area from which gaming is not permitted;
when the electronic device is located within the predefined area from which gaming is not permitted, communicate a game disablement information via the communications network to the electronic device, wherein the game disablement information causes the electronic device to be configured such that the user is not able to play the game activities via the electronic device;
when the electronic device is located within the predefined area from which gaming is permitted, initiate the gaming session, wherein to initiate the gaming session includes to communicate via the communications network information to the electronic device, wherein the information causes the electronic device to present via a display of the electronic device a gaming environment to the user or to present via the display to the user a modified gaming environment that indicates to the user a last one of the game activities accessed by the user during a prior gaming session, the determination as to whether to display the gaming environment or the modified gaming environment being based on whether there is or is not a stored indication of a last one of the game activities accessed by the user during the prior gaming session.

4 more elements

An apparatus for supporting multiple users in electronic gaming, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;
a memory electronically coupled to the at least processor and having software instructions stored thereon that when executed by the at least one processor direct the at least one processor to:
responsive at least in part to an action by a user of an electronic device in use by the user, receive via a communications network from the electronic device a request to initiate a gaming session, wherein the gaming session enables the user to play one or more of a plurality of game activities via the electronic device;
responsive at least in part to receiving the request to initiate the gaming session, determine whether the electronic device is located within a predefined area from which gaming is permitted or is located in a predefined area from which gaming is not permitted, wherein the determining comprises to receive via the communications network an identifier that indicates a network, a portion of a network, or a network component the electronic device is connected to in order to communicate with the apparatus, and wherein the identifier is mapped via a database to a geographic area, and a determination is made as to whether the geographic area is within the predefined area from which gaming is permitted or is located in the predefined area from which gaming is not permitted;
when the electronic device is located within the predefined area from which gaming is not permitted, communicate a game disablement information via the communications network to the electronic device, wherein the game disablement information causes the electronic device to be configured such that the user is not able to play the game activities via the electronic device;
when the electronic device is located within the predefined area from which gaming is permitted, initiate the gaming session, wherein to initiate the gaming session includes to communicate via the communications network information to the electronic device, wherein the information causes the electronic device to present via a display of the electronic device a gaming environment to the user or to present via the display to the user a modified gaming environment that indicates to the user a last one of the game activities accessed by the user during a prior gaming session, the determination as to whether to display the gaming environment or the modified gaming environment being based on whether there is or is not a stored indication of a last one of the game activities accessed by the user during the prior gaming session.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/930,040Filed 2 Nov 2015 · continuation
Priority: 8 Jul 2005
Published: US 2016/0054838 A125 Feb 2016
Granted: 24 Dec 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

G07F 17/3237
Wherein the operator is informed: about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
G06F 3/048
Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer: interaction techniques based on graphical…
G06Q 50/34
Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g.…:…
G07F 17/32
Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services: for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Family

Application60/697,861Us provisional application · filed 8 Jul 2005
Application11/199,835Parent of this continuation · filed 9 Aug 2005
Application12/247,623Parent of this continuation · filed 8 Oct 2008
US 7,534,169 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 19 May 2009
Application13/616,356Parent of this continuation · filed 14 Sep 2012
US 8,613,658 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 24 Dec 2013
US 2016/0054838 A1Pre-grant publication · published 25 Feb 2016
US 2007/0060305 A1Published application
US 2009/0029780 A1Published application
US 2013/0012324 A1Published application
US 9,355,518 B2Related patent
US 10,515,511 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.