# US 2019/0378233 A1 · Proximity based conditional rewards for casino users

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2019/0378233 A1
- Document ID: US20190378233A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/002,341
- Filed: 2018-06-07
- Published: 2019-12-12
- Earliest claimed: 2018-06-07
- Assignees: Igt
- Applicants: Igt
- Inventors: Michael Russ; Stefan Keilwert; Sven Aurich; David Froy
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190378233A1

## CPC

- G06Q 50/34: Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
- G01S 5/0009: {Transmission of position information to remote stations (involving assistance data G01S5/0236)}
- G01S 5/0269: {Inferred or constrained positioning, e.g. employing knowledge of the physical or electromagnetic environment, state of motion or other contextual information to infer or constrain a position}
- G01S 5/0295: {Proximity-based methods, e.g. position inferred from reception of particular signals}
- G01S 19/51: Relative positioning
- G06Q 30/0209: {Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game}
- G06Q 30/0235: constrained by time limit or expiration date
- G06Q 30/0261: {based on user location}
- G06Q 30/0267: {Wireless devices}
- G07F 17/323: {wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions}
- G07F 17/3239: {Tracking of individual players}
- G07F 17/3255: {Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements}
- H04L 67/131: Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
- H04W 4/021: Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00})
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

A computer-implemented method can include determining a location of a mobile device that is proximate to a casino and that is associated with a user. The method can further includes determining a conditional reward that indicates a reward to be provided to the user in response to a condition being completed by the user. The conditional reward can be based on the location of the mobile device relative to the casino. The method can further include transmitting a signal having the conditional reward to the mobile device and determining that the user is at the casino. The method can further include determining that the condition is completed and providing the user with the reward.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computer-implemented method comprising:
determining a location of a mobile device that is proximate to a casino and that is associated with a user;
determining a conditional reward that indicates a reward to be provided to the user in response to a condition being completed by the user, the conditional reward being based on the location of the mobile device relative to the casino;
transmitting a signal comprising the conditional reward to the mobile device;
determining that the user is at the casino;
determining that the condition is completed; and
providing the user with the reward.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining the location of the mobile device comprises using a first wireless communication technology, wherein determining that the user is at the casino comprises determining that the mobile device is at the casino using a second wireless communication technology distinct from the first wireless communication technology.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein determining the location of the mobile device comprises receiving an additional signal from the mobile device via a telecommunications network, the additional signal comprising a GPS location of the mobile device, wherein determining that the mobile device is at the casino comprises communicating with the mobile device using a short-range wireless communication network that is at the casino.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining the conditional reward comprises:
estimating an amount of time required for the user to arrive at the casino based on the location of the mobile device; and
determining that the condition comprises the user arriving at the casino within a limited amount of time, the limited amount of time being based on the amount of time required for the user to arrive at the casino.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the condition is a first condition that is associated with a first reward and comprises the user arriving at the casino within a first limited amount of time, wherein determining the conditional reward further comprises determining a second condition that is associated with a second reward comprises the user arriving at the casino within a second limited amount of time, the second limited amount of time being less than the first limited amount of time and the second reward being more desirable than the first reward.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining the conditional reward comprises:
determining that a person is associated with the user; and
determining that the condition corresponds to the person and the user being located at the casino,
wherein determining that the condition is completed further comprises determining that the person is at the casino, and
wherein the conditional reward includes a first reward to be provided to the user in response to the condition being completed and a second reward to be provided to the person in response to the condition being completed.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining the conditional reward comprises:
determining a preferred activity for the user at the casino; and
determining that the reward comprises reserving the preferred activity such that the preferred activity is made available to the user in response to the condition being completed.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein determining the preferred activity for the user comprises:
transmitting a first message to the mobile device requesting feedback corresponding to available activities at the casino;
receiving a second message from the mobile device, the second message comprising feedback corresponding to available activities at the casino; and
responsive to receiving the second message, determining the preferred activity based on the feedback.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining the conditional reward comprises:
determining the reward based on a referral by the user, a frequency of visits by the user to the casino, a duration of visits by the user at the casino, a point status of the user, or an activity previously performed by the user at the casino.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the user is at the casino comprises detecting use of an identification that is associated with the user at an electronic or electro-mechanical gaming machine (“EGM”) in the casino.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining the conditional reward comprises:
defining a plurality of subsets of activities within the casino;
determining that the condition comprises the user being part of a team that captures a predetermined number of the plurality of subsets, wherein the team captures a subset of the plurality of subsets by the team obtaining a highest score associated with the subset.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining the conditional reward comprises:
determining that the condition corresponds to the user bringing a minimum number of friends to the casino; and
determining that a value of the reward increases based on a number of friends that the user brings to the casino above the minimum number,
wherein determining that the condition is completed further comprises:
determining the number of friends of the user located at the casino;
determining that the number of friends is above the minimum number; and
determining the value of the reward based on the number of friends above the minimum number.

### Claim 13

A system comprising:
a processor; and
a memory comprising instructions stored therein, the instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
determine a location of a mobile device that is proximate to a casino and associated with a user;
determine a preferred activity of the user within the casino;
transmit a signal to the mobile device indicating that the preferred activity is reserved for the user during a period of time, the period of time being based on the location of the mobile device relative to the casino; and
provide the mobile device with instructions to access the preferred activity in response to determining that the user is at the casino within the period of time.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the instructions to cause the processor to determine the location of the mobile device comprise instruction to cause the processor to use a first wireless communication technology, the instructions being further executable to cause the processor to determine that the user is at the casino using a second wireless communication technology that is distinct from the first form of wireless communication.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the instructions to cause the processor to determine the location of the mobile device comprise instructions to cause the processor to receive an additional signal from the mobile device via a telecommunications network, the additional signal comprising a GPS location of the mobile device, wherein the instructions to cause the processor to determine the user is at the casino comprise instructions to cause the processor to communicate with the mobile device using a short-range wireless communication network that is available at the casino.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
determine a conditional reward that indicates a reward to be provided to the user in response to a condition being completed by the user, the reward being based on the location of the mobile device relative to the casino and the conditional reward comprising the reservation of the preferred activity, wherein the instructions to cause the processor to determine the conditional reward comprise instructions to cause the processor to:
estimate an amount of time required for the user to arrive at the casino based on the location of the mobile device;
determine that the condition comprises the user arriving at the casino within a limited amount of time, the limited amount of time being based on the amount of time required for the user to arrive at the casino.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein the condition is a first condition that is associated with a first reward and that comprises the user arriving at the casino within a first limited amount of time, wherein the instructions to cause the processor to determine the conditional reward further comprise causing the processor to determine that a second condition associated with a second reward comprises the user arriving at the casino within a second limited amount of time, the second limited amount of time being less than the first limited amount of time and the second reward being more desirable than the first reward.

### Claim 18

A system comprising:
a processor; and
a memory comprising instructions stored therein, the instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
transmit a location of a mobile device that is proximate to a casino and associated with a user to a remote device associated with the casino;
receive a message from the remote device in response to communicating the location of the mobile device, the message indicating a plurality of rewards that are available to the user in response to the user being at the casino and each reward of the plurality of rewards comprising a limited amount of time in which to claim each reward of the plurality of rewards; and
receive an indication of a given reward of the plurality of rewards being provided to the user in response to the user being at the casino within the limited amount of time associated with the reward.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the instructions to cause the processor to transmit the location of the mobile device further cause the processor to transmit the location of the mobile device using a first wireless communication technology, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the processor to transmit a signal to the remote device using a second wireless communication technology distinct from the first wireless communication technology in response to the user being at the casino.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the instructions to cause the processor to transmit the location of the mobile device further cause the processor to communicate a GPS location of the mobile device to the remote device via a telecommunications network, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the processor to indicate to the remote device that the user is in the casino by communicating over a short-range wireless communication network available at the casino.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor for causing the processor to transmit feedback to the remote device, the feedback comprising a rating of a plurality of EGM at the casino, wherein the plurality of rewards comprises an opportunity to reserve an EGM of the plurality of EGMs at the casino for a specific period of time, the specific period of time being based on the location of the mobile device relative to the casino and the EGM being selected from the plurality of gaming machines based on the feedback.