System and method for augmented gaming venue using a mobile device

A method of enabling a user in an augmented reality gaming venue to use an augmented reality gaming venue application that is displayed on a mobile device to find a targeted user, the method comprising:

• controlling a camera on the mobile device using the augmented reality gaming venue application, once the augmented reality gaming venue application is activated;
• determining a location of the mobile device;
• determining an orientation of the mobile device;
• querying a casino management system to retrieve data for the augmented reality gaming venue, wherein the user may register affinities for targeted users via the augmented reality venue application, and enabling the user to find the targeted user by aiming the mobile device around the augmented reality gaming venue until the targeted user is located;
• generating a list of the targeted users and objects currently visible to the camera;
• rendering a camera-captured image on a display of the mobile device;
• overlaying one or more icons on the camera-captured image for the targeted user and each visible object to display visual information to the user on the display of the mobile device in response to the user aiming the mobile device in the augmented reality gaming venue while looking for the targeted user;
• and
• selectively displaying the one or more icons associated with each visible object;
• wherein the augmented reality gaming venue application enables the user to register a user icon with the targeted user and then locate the targeted user by panning the camera around the augmented reality gaming venue until the user icon is shown on the display, wherein the user icon is displayed even when the targeted user is not directly visible by the user due to intervening objects.

A method of enabling a user in an augmented reality gaming venue to use an augmented reality gaming venue application and a mobile device to find a particular game or gaming machine at another location, the method comprising:

• controlling a camera on the mobile device using the augmented reality gaming venue application, once the augmented reality gaming venue application is activated;
• determining a location of the mobile device;
• determining an orientation of the mobile device;
• querying a casino management system to retrieve data for the augmented reality gaming venue;
• generating a list of gaming machines and other objects in the augmented reality gaming venue, including gaming machines and other objects not currently visible to the camera of the mobile device;
• rendering a camera-captured image on a display of the mobile device;
• and
• overlaying one or more icons on the camera-captured image for each visible object to display visual information to the user on the display of the mobile device;
• selectively displaying the one or more icons associated with each visible object;
• and
• enabling the user to find a targeted gaming machine at another location in the augmented reality gaming venue, wherein if the targeted gaming machine is visible, the targeted gaming machine is indicated on the display by a first icon pointing at the targeted gaming machine, and wherein if the targeted gaming machine is not visible, a second icon is displayed that indicates which direction the user should rotate the mobile device to bring the targeted gaming machine into view on the display;
• wherein as the user rotates the mobile device, a position of the second icon is updated, and eventually replaced by the first icon pointing directly at the targeted gaming machine;
• wherein the augmented reality gaming venue application enables the user to register a user icon with an affiliate player and then locate the affiliate player by panning the camera around the augmented reality gaming venue until the user icon is shown on the display, wherein the user icon is displayed even when the affiliate player is not directly visible by the user due to intervening objects.

A gaming system for enabling a user in an augmented reality gaming venue to use an augmented reality gaming venue application and a mobile device to find a particular game, a particular gaming machine, or a particular user, the gaming system comprising:

• one or more gaming machines, each gaming machine having a door solenoid to unlock a door;
• a server connected to the one or more gaming machines via a network, wherein the server is associated with a casino management system that is enabled to retrieve queries for data regarding the augmented reality gaming venue;
• and
• one or more mobile devices that includes a camera, a gyroscope, a location tracking component, an optical recognition component, and a wireless connection to the server, wherein each of the one or more mobile devices enables the user to scan the augmented reality gaming venue using the camera, wherein the location tracking component determines a location of the mobile device, wherein the gyroscope determines an orientation of the mobile device, wherein the optical recognition component captures data regarding the augmented reality gaming application, and wherein the wireless connection to the server enables the mobile device to send and receive information from the server;
• wherein the casino management system generates a list of gaming machines and other objects currently visible to the camera, wherein the augmented reality gaming venue application renders a camera-captured image on a display of the mobile device, and wherein the augmented reality gaming venue application overlays one or more icons on the camera-captured image for each visible object to display visual information to the user on the display of the mobile device in response to the user aiming the mobile device at gaming machines, users, or other objects of interest in the augmented reality gaming venue;
• wherein the mobile device selectively displays the one or more icons associated with each visible object;
• wherein the augmented reality gaming venue application enables a player to register a user icon with an affiliate player and then locate the affiliate player by panning the camera around the augmented reality gaming venue until the user icon is shown on the display, wherein the user icon is displayed even when the affiliate player is not directly visible by the player due to intervening objects.