# US 9,520,023 B2 · System and method for bonus gaming using a mobile device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,520,023 B2 - Document ID: US9520023B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/028,433 - Filed: 2013-09-16 - Published: 2014-02-13 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2010-11-15 - Assignees: Bally Gaming, Inc. - Applicants: Bally Gaming, Inc. - Inventors: Martin S. Lyons; Bryan M. Kelly - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9520023B2 ## CPC - G07F 17/3241: {Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance (computer security G06F21/00)} - A63F 11/0074: {Game concepts, rules or strategies} - G05B 15/02: electric - G06K 5/00: Methods or arrangements for verifying the correctness of markings on a record carrier; Column detection devices - G06V 20/20: in augmented reality scenes - G06V 40/161: {Detection; Localisation; Normalisation} - G07F 17/3206: {Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics} - G07F 17/3218: {wherein at least part of the system is portable} - G07F 17/3225: {Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users} - G07F 17/3237: {about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players} - G07F 17/3244: {Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes} - G07F 17/3255: {Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements} - G07F 17/3293: {Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack} - A63F 2011/0093: {characterised by the game theory or winning strategy} - G05D 1/0038: {by providing the operator with simple or augmented images from one or more cameras located onboard the vehicle, e.g. tele-operation (images analyzed by a computer and used for automatic navigation G05D1/0246)} - G06V 20/10: Terrestrial scenes (scenes under surveillance with static cameras G06V20/52; scenes perceived from the exterior of a vehicle G06V20/56; scenes perceived from the interior of a vehicle G06V20/59) - G06V 40/166: {using acquisition arrangements} - H04M 2203/359: Augmented reality - H04N 2201/3245: of image modifying data, e.g. handwritten addenda, highlights or augmented reality information - 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}) - A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract Disclosed is a method for enabling a player to use a mobile bonus feature system and a mobile device to become eligible for mobile promotions in addition to prizes or awards offered by a game on an underlying gaming machine. The method includes: enabling selection of a mobile promotion and an associated game on an underlying gaming machine; once the player meets criteria of the mobile promotion on the underlying gaming machine, enabling the player to use a camera of the mobile device to take a photo of a game result that satisfies the mobile promotion; analyzing the photo of the game result to confirm the player has met the criteria of the mobile promotion; and once confirmed, awarding the player a bonus associated with the mobile promotion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of enabling a player to use a mobile bonus feature system and a mobile device to become eligible for mobile promotions in addition to prizes or awards offered by a game on an underlying gaming machine, the method comprising: displaying a list of mobile promotions associated with games on underlying gaming machines; enabling selection of a mobile promotion and an associated game on the underlying gaming machine; once the player meets criteria of the mobile promotion on the underlying gaming machine, enabling the player to use a camera of the mobile device to capture an image of a game result that satisfies the mobile promotion; securely transmitting the captured image of the game result that satisfies the mobile promotion; analyzing the captured image of the game result to confirm the player has met the criteria of the mobile promotion; and once confirmed, awarding the player a bonus associated with the mobile promotion; wherein the mobile bonus feature system includes an image analysis system, wherein the image analysis system includes a library of all candidate symbol images that are detectable, and wherein an arrangement of symbols in the captured image of the game result are identified from the library of said all candidate symbol images; wherein determination of a mobile device's location is used to compare the captured image of the game result against the mobile device's location using a list of known games near the mobile device's location. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile bonus feature system includes a player value tracking system that enables the player to be offered bonuses available to other players in a demographic of the player and the other players. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the player's demographic includes location, jurisdiction, age, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile bonus feature system includes a player value tracking system in which, as players participate in the mobile promotion, a player value increases based upon a player's average bet, enabling higher value, and more targeted bonuses, to be offered. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile bonus feature system includes a player value tracking system, wherein the player value tracking system only tracks events captured by the mobile bonus feature system, and not winning activity from the games on the underlying gaming machine. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile bonus feature system includes a player registration module that generates new records for a player value tracking system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile bonus feature system includes a player registration module, wherein the player registration module receives identification data from the player to ensure that the player does not register multiple accounts, as part of a fraud prevention system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile bonus feature system includes a player registration module, wherein the player registration module electronically fingerprints a mobile bonus feature application to only a single mobile device account or only a single mobile device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile bonus feature system includes a player web interface that provides a portal to a player registration module. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile bonus feature system includes a player web interface that provides general advertising of the mobile bonus feature system and current promotions. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile bonus feature system includes a player web interface that provides an ability to push updates to the mobile device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile bonus feature system includes a player web interface that enables software and encryption keys on the mobile device to be periodically updated as an anti-hacking measure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile bonus feature system includes a bonus match system, wherein the bonus match system is used, once the captured image has been analyzed, to determine a state of the underlying gaming machine at an image capture time, from which a correct bonus to be awarded is calculated. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile bonus feature system includes a bonus match system, wherein the bonus match system parses a list of possible bonuses to generate a list of matching bonuses. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile bonus feature system includes a bonus match system, wherein bonus records in the bonus match system include: a type of bonus, a game identifier, game qualifying conditions, bet qualifying conditions, geographic restrictions, demographic restrictions, time restrictions, a quantity, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the bonus records include the type of bonus, wherein the type of bonus is physical, virtual, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the game identifier records include a name of the game on the underlying gaming machine to which the mobile promotion is associated. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the game qualifying conditions records include symbols or game states that must be matched to win the mobile promotion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the bet qualifying conditions records include conditions by which the bonus is restricted, including a minimum denomination played, a minimum number of lines played, a minimum total bet, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the geographic restrictions records include location-based restrictions to restrict eligibility of some bonuses that include a cell tower identifier, reverse DNS lookup, GPS address, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the demographic restrictions records include bonuses that are available only to players in certain demographic groups including age-ranges, gender, residency, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the time restrictions records include bonuses that are only available at certain times of a week or for a fixed length of time. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the quantity records include a limit to be set on a number of redemptions before the bonus expires. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile bonus feature system includes a bonus award system, wherein the bonus award system distributes awards to winning players. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the image analysis system determines an arrangement of symbols presented in an image captured by the player. ### Claim 26 A method of enabling a player to use a mobile bonus feature system and a mobile device to become eligible for mobile promotions in addition to prizes or awards offered by a game on an underlying gaming machine, the method comprising: enabling selection of a mobile promotion and an associated game on the underlying gaming machine; once the player meets criteria of the mobile promotion on the underlying gaming machine, enabling the player to use a camera of the mobile device to capture an image of a game result that satisfies the mobile promotion; securely transmitting the captured image of the game result; analyzing the captured image of the game result to confirm the player has met the criteria of the mobile promotion; and once confirmed, awarding the player a bonus associated with the mobile promotion; wherein the mobile bonus feature system includes an image analysis system, wherein the image analysis system includes a library of all candidate symbol images that are detectable, and wherein an arrangement of symbols in the captured image of the game result are identified from the library of said all candidate symbol images; wherein determination of a mobile device's location is used to compare the captured image of the game result against the mobile device's location using a list of known games near the mobile device's location. ### Claim 27 A method of enabling a player to use a mobile bonus feature system and a mobile device to become eligible for mobile promotions in addition to prizes or awards offered by a game on an underlying gaming machine, the method comprising: enabling selection of a mobile promotion and an associated game on the underlying gaming machine; once the player meets criteria of the mobile promotion on the underlying gaming machine, enabling the player to use a camera of the mobile device to capture an image of a game result that satisfies the mobile promotion; analyzing the captured image of the game result to confirm the player has met the criteria of the mobile promotion; and once confirmed, awarding the player a bonus associated with the mobile promotion; wherein the mobile bonus feature system includes an image analysis system, wherein the image analysis system includes a library of all candidate symbol images that are detectable, and wherein an arrangement of symbols in the captured image of the game result are identified from the library of said all candidate symbol images; wherein determination of a mobile device's location is used to compare the captured image of the game result against the mobile device's location using a list of known games near the mobile device's location.