US 8,616,967 B2Granted

System and method for convenience gaming

AssigneeCfph, LLC

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

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Abstract

A convenience gaming system is provided. The convenience 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.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;
and
at least one memory device electronically coupled to the at least one processor, in which the at least one memory device stores instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, direct the at least one processor to:
determine that a gaming device is located within an approved gaming area,
in which a user of the gaming device is permitted to engage in at least one wager-based gaming activity via the gaming device when the gaming device is used by the user from within approved gaming areas,
in which the user is not permitted to engage in the at least one wager-based gaming activity via the gaming device when the gaming device is used by the user from within unapproved gaming areas, and
in which the apparatus is operable to communicate with the gaming device via a wireless communications network;
permit the user to engage in the at least one wager-based gaming activity via the gaming device based at least in part on determining that the gaming device is located within the approved gaming area;
increment a counter as the user engages in the at least one wager-based gaming activity via the gaming device from within the approved gaming area,
in which the counter comprises an amount of time, and
in which the user is permitted to engage in the at least one wager-based gaming activity via the gaming device for a predetermined amount of time;
after determining that the gaming device is located within the approved gaming area, determine that the gaming device moved to a location within an unapproved gaming area;
and
based at least in part on determining that the gaming device is located within the unapproved gaming area:
(i) not permit the user to engage in the at least one wager-based gaming activity via the gaming device;
and
(ii) stop incrementing the counter.

14 more elements

An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;
and
at least one memory device electronically coupled to the at least one processor, in which the memory device stores instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, direct the at least one processor to:
determine that a gaming device is located within an approved gaming area,
in which a user of the gaming device is permitted to engage in at least one wager-based gaming activity via the gaming device when the gaming device is used by the user from within approved gaming areas,
in which the user is not permitted to engage in the at least one wager-based gaming activity via the gaming device when the gaming device is used by the user from within unapproved gaming areas, and
in which the apparatus is operable to communicate with the gaming device via a wireless communications network;
permit the user to engage in the at least one wager-based gaming activity via the gaming device based at least in part on determining that the gaming device is located within the approved gaming area;
increment a counter while the gaming device is activated and located within the approved gaming area,
in which the counter comprises an amount of time, and
in which the gaming device is permitted to be activated for a predetermined amount of time;
after determining that the mobile device is located within the approved gaming area, determine that the mobile device moved to a location within an unapproved gaming area;
and
based at least in part on determining that the mobile device is located within the unapproved gaming area:
(i) not permit the user to engage in the at least one wager-based gaming activity via the gaming device;
and
(ii) stop incrementing the counter.

14 more elements

A method comprising:

at least one computing device determine that a gaming device is located within an approved gaming area,
in which a user of the gaming device is permitted to engage in at least one wager-based gaming activity via the gaming device when the gaming device is used by the user from within approved gaming areas,
in which the user is not permitted to engage in the at least one wager-based gaming activity via the gaming device when the gaming device is used by the user from within unapproved gaming areas, and
in which the at least one computing device communicates with the gaming device via a wireless communications network;
the at least one computing device permitting the user to engage in the at least one wager-based gaming activity via the gaming device based at least in part on determining that the gaming device is located within the approved gaming area;
the at least one computing device incrementing a counter as the user engages in the at least one wager-based gaming activity via the gaming device from within the approved gaming area,
in which the counter comprises an amount of time, and
in which the user is permitted to engage in the at least one wager-based gaming activity via the gaming device for a predetermined amount of time;
after determining that the gaming device is located within the approved gaming area, the at least one computing device determining that the gaming device moved to a location within an unapproved gaming area;
and
based at least in part on determining that the gaming device is located within the unapproved gaming area, the at least one computing device:
(i) not permitting the user to engage in the at least one wager-based gaming activity via the gaming device;
and
(ii) stopping the incrementing of the counter.

11 more elements

A method comprising:

at least one computing device determining that a gaming device is located within an approved gaming area,
in which a user of the gaming device is permitted to engage in at least one wager-based gaming activity via the gaming device when the gaming device is used by the user from within approved gaming areas,
in which the user is not permitted to engage in the at least one wagerbased gaming activity via the gaming device when the gaming device is used by the user from within unapproved gaming areas, and
in which the at least one computing device communicates with the gaming device via a wireless communications network;
the at least one computing device permitting the user to engage in the at least one wagerbased gaming activity via the gaming device based at least in part on determining that the gaming device is located within the approved gaming area;
the at least one computing device incrementing a counter while the gaming device is activated and located within the approved gaming area,
in which the counter comprises an amount of time, and
in which the gaming device is permitted to be activated for a predetermined amount of time;
after determining that the mobile device is located within the approved gaming area, the at least one computing device determining that the mobile device moved to a location within an unapproved gaming area;
and
based at least in part on determining that the mobile device is located within the unapproved gaming area, the at least one computing device:
(i) not permitting the user to engage in the at least one wager-based gaming activity via the gaming device;
and
(ii) stopping the incrementing of the counter.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/063,311Filed 21 Feb 2005 · continuation in part
Priority: 25 Feb 2004
Published: US 2005/0187020 A18 Sep 2005
Granted: 31 Dec 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

G07F 17/3223
Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof: architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal…
A63F 13/216
Characterised by their sensors, purposes or types: using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
G07F 17/32
Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services: for games, toys, sports, or amusements
G07F 17/3237
Wherein the operator is informed: about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players

Family

Application60/547,507Us provisional application · filed 25 Feb 2004
Application60/549,187Us provisional application · filed 1 Mar 2004
Application10/835,995Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 29 Apr 2004
US 2005/0197190 A1Pre-grant publication · published 8 Sep 2005
US 2005/0187020 A1Published application
US 8,092,303 B2Related patent
US 8,616,967 B2This patent

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

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Abstract

Facts

Application

11/063,311Filed 21 Feb 2005 · continuation in part

Priority

25 Feb 2004

Published

US 2005/0187020 A18 Sep 2005

Granted

31 Dec 2013

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

G07F 17/3223
Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof: architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal…
A63F 13/216
Characterised by their sensors, purposes or types: using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
G07F 17/32
Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services: for games, toys, sports, or amusements
G07F 17/3237
Wherein the operator is informed: about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players

Family

Application60/547,507Us provisional application · filed 25 Feb 2004

Application60/549,187Us provisional application · filed 1 Mar 2004

Application10/835,995Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 29 Apr 2004

US 2005/0197190 A1Pre-grant publication · published 8 Sep 2005

US 2005/0187020 A1Published application

US 8,092,303 B2Related patent

US 8,616,967 B2This patent

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