WO2011090746A1 - Système et procédé d'augmentation de l'engagement de joueurs et d'acquisition de joueurs par l'intermédiaire d'un système de jeu social - Google Patents

Système et procédé d'augmentation de l'engagement de joueurs et d'acquisition de joueurs par l'intermédiaire d'un système de jeu social Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2011090746A1
WO2011090746A1 PCT/US2010/062340 US2010062340W WO2011090746A1 WO 2011090746 A1 WO2011090746 A1 WO 2011090746A1 US 2010062340 W US2010062340 W US 2010062340W WO 2011090746 A1 WO2011090746 A1 WO 2011090746A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
player
social networking
gaming
game
networking application
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2010/062340
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Francis J. Lichtenberger
Scott N. Weller
Original Assignee
Lichtenberger Francis J
Weller Scott N
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US12/816,149 external-priority patent/US20110014972A1/en
Application filed by Lichtenberger Francis J, Weller Scott N filed Critical Lichtenberger Francis J
Publication of WO2011090746A1 publication Critical patent/WO2011090746A1/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
    • G07F17/3225—Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
    • G07F17/323—Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • 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
    • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
    • G06Q10/10—Office automation; Time management
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • 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
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Definitions

  • the field of the invention relates generally to gaming, and more particularly to using social networks and social network games to increase existing gambling establishment (e.g., casino, lottery or other lawful physical or online gambling establishments) player engagement and new player acquisition.
  • existing gambling establishment e.g., casino, lottery or other lawful physical or online gambling establishments
  • gambling establishments e.g., casino, lottery or other lawful physical or online gambling establishments
  • player loyalty clubs, "member's only” clubs, or similar programs are a common method used by gambling establishments to attempt to achieve this goal.
  • These clubs typically provide one or more benefits to players, such as discounts, advanced notification of news and events, mailing lists, and other benefits.
  • “Second chance” games are another method that may be used by some gambling (or gaming, as used herein interchangeably) establishments to increase participation and brand interaction. These second chance games typically attempt to reward a player's losing efforts by making the player eligible to participate in a second chance drawing, contest, or event.
  • Gambling establishments can further increase engagement by combining player clubs with more advanced second chance games that have the ability to keep the state of play and thereby serialize gaming play over multiple gaming plays and/or multiple gambling establishment visits.
  • social networks have become extremely popular. Such social networks vary from the well known Facebook or MySpace networks to smaller less known networks or internet sites that incorporate similar social networking features.
  • the core features of these social networks enable users of the network to interact with each in wide variety of ways, such as email, instant messaging, sharing of status or activity information, social networking based games, and/or other automated and/or user initiated methods.
  • the related U.S. U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 12/495,156 entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SOCIAL NETWORKING IN A GAMING ENVIRONMENT,” filed on June 30, 2009, of which application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety explains how social networks can be integrated with gaming environments to provide many benefits to both players and gaming establishments.
  • aspects of the present invention relate to combining gambling establishment systems with social networks and social networking games to help gambling establishments (e.g., casino, lottery or other lawful physical or online gambling establishments) increase player engagement, to aid in new player acquisition, or to advance other goals of the gambling establishment.
  • gambling establishments e.g., casino, lottery or other lawful physical or online gambling establishments
  • a method for increasing player engagement by a gaming system.
  • the method comprises acts of providing, in an interface of a social networking application, access to at least one application program that is capable of interaction with a player, and communicating, from the at least one application program, at least one or more actions performed by the player to a gaming system controlled by a gaming operator.
  • the method further comprises an act of rewarding, by the gaming operator, the player responsive to one or more desirable actions performed by the player within the social networking application.
  • the method further comprises an act of providing an incentive to the player responsive to the one or more desirable actions.
  • the incentive has at least one of an actual or a perceived value.
  • the incentive comprises a status given to the player responsive to the one or more desirable actions.
  • the method further comprises an act of reducing the status over time in the absence of continued desirable actions performed by the player.
  • the method further comprises providing the incentive through at least one of a group comprising a frequent player club system, the social networking application, a customer management system (CMS), and a system associated with a gaming operator.
  • the method further comprises an act of rewarding the player for desirable interactions with other players.
  • the incentive comprises at least one of the group comprising cash, noncashable credits, goods, services, an entry in a game of chance or skill, a status in an online game, a status in the social networking application, and increased functionality within the social networking application.
  • a method for increasing player engagement by a gaming system comprises acts of providing, in an interface of a social networking application, access to at least one application program that is capable of interaction with a player, and communicating, from the at least one application program, at least one or more actions performed by the player to a gaming system controlled by a gaming operator.
  • the method further comprises an act of rewarding, by the gaming operator, the player responsive to one or more desirable actions performed by the player within the social networking application.
  • the method further comprises an act of providing an incentive to the player responsive to the one or more desirable actions.
  • the incentive has at least one of an actual or a perceived value.
  • the incentive comprises a status given to the player responsive to the one or more desirable actions.
  • the method further comprises an act of reducing the status over time in the absence of continued desirable actions performed by the player.
  • the method further comprises providing the incentive through at least one of a group comprising a frequent player club system, the social networking application, a customer management system (CMS), and a system associated with a gaming operator.
  • the method further comprises an act of rewarding the player for desirable interactions with other players.
  • the incentive comprises at least one of the group comprising cash, noncashable credits, goods, services, an entry in a game of chance or skill, a status in an online game, a status in the social networking application, increased functionality within a rewards or loyalty club, and increased
  • the method further comprises providing a game to the player for play on a computer system associated with the player, and displaying, during play of the game, an award to the player in an interface associated with the game.
  • the award to the player is responsive to the player performing an action in the game.
  • the one or more actions includes an action by the player to authorize access to player data within the social networking application.
  • the one or more actions includes an action by the player to authorize access by the gaming system to the social networking application.
  • the method further comprises an act of sending, by the gaming system, information to the player through the social networking application.
  • the method further comprises performing a change in status of the player in the social networking application responsive to an action performed by the player.
  • the method further comprises identifying an action performed by a player by the gaming system and communicating information to the social networking application identifying the action preformed.
  • a distributed system comprises at least one computer system comprising a processor and a memory, the processor being configured to execute a social networking application having an interfaced that is configured to interact with a player, the processor being configured to communicate, via an interface of the at least one computer system, a communication indicating at least one or more actions performed by the player to a gaming system controlled by a gaming operator.
  • the processor is further configured to determine an award, by the gaming operator, to the player responsive to one or more desirable actions performed by the player within the social networking application.
  • the processor is further configured to provide an incentive to the player responsive to the one or more desirable actions.
  • the incentive has at least one of an actual or a perceived value.
  • the incentive comprises a status given to the player responsive to the one or more desirable actions.
  • the processor is further configured to reduce the status over time in the absence of continued desirable actions performed by the player.
  • the processor is further configured to provide the incentive through at least one of a group comprising a frequent player club system, the social networking application, a customer management system (CMS), and a system associated with a gaming operator.
  • the processor is further configured to determine an award to the player for desirable interactions by the player with other players.
  • the incentive comprises at least one of the group comprising cash, noncashable credits, goods, services, an entry in a game of chance or skill, a status in an online game, a status in the social networking application, increased functionality within a rewards or loyalty club, and increased functionality within the social networking application.
  • the processor is further configured to provide a game to the player for play on the at least one computer system associated with the player, and wherein the processor is further configured to display, during play of the game, an award to the player in an interface of the at least one computer system, the interface being associated with the game.
  • the award to the player is responsive to the player performing an action in the game.
  • the one or more actions includes an action by the player to authorize access to player data within the social networking application.
  • the one or more actions includes an action by the player to authorize access by the gaming system to the social networking application.
  • the processor is further configured to receive, from the gaming system, information to the player through the social networking application.
  • the processor is further configured to perform a change in status of the player in the social networking application responsive to an action performed by the player.
  • the processor is further configured to identify an action performed by a player by the gaming system and communicate information to the social networking application identifying the action performed.
  • Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a distributed system wherein actions performed by players in a social networking application cause incentives to be provided by a gaming system according to one embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 2 shows example interactions between a social networking application and gaming system according to one embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 3 shows an example process for distributing incentives to players in a social network application according to one embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 4 shows an example process for distributing incentives by a gaming system according to one embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 5 shows an example process for providing incentives based on authorization status according to one embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 6 shows an example process for integrating incentives that can be revealed during play of a reveal-based game according to one embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 7 shows a tree structure used to determine status and awards based on actions performed by players according to one embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 8 shows an example computer system upon which various aspects in accord with the present invention may be implemented
  • Figure 9 shows another environment suitable for implementing various aspects of the present invention.
  • Figure 10 shows a general-purpose computer system suitable for implementing various aspects of the present invention.
  • Figure 11 shows a storage system suitable for implementing various aspects of the present invention.
  • a gambling establishment e.g., casino, lottery or other lawful physical or online gambling establishment
  • Customer Management System or other gambling establishment system or platform
  • the social network or platform can be an existing third party social network or platform, or it can be a social network or platform belonging to the gambling establishment.
  • the social network is an established social network such as Facebook or MySpace and the integration occurs through a Facebook or MySpace application.
  • the social network is Twitter and the integration occurs through an automated feed.
  • the system enables a player to access features of the integrated system either via the gambling establishment's player club system, via player accessible points of the gambling establishments Customer Management System, or via the social network.
  • the features of the integrated system can be made available via any number of devices or locations, such as a web browser connected to a public or private network, kiosks located on or off property, mobile devices, handheld devices, electronic gaming machine consoles (e.g., a slot machine console or touch screen) or numerous other methods for electronic access.
  • the social network may be a social network available exclusively to player club members.
  • a social network may be an extension of the player club or the network may be a fully integrated component of the player club itself.
  • players can access features of the system via many varying devices and methods, including for example a web browser connected to a public or private network, kiosks, mobile devices, handheld devices, electronic gaming machine consoles, or another device or method.
  • the player receives incentives to take certain actions in the social network where particular actions taken are desired by the gaming establishment.
  • incentives can be of either real or perceived value and can be delivered via the player club, the Customer Management System (CMS), some other gambling establishment system or platform, the social network, social network application, or some other method.
  • CMS Customer Management System
  • the desired action can be any action desired by the gambling establishment. This action can advance a direct goal of the gambling establishment - for example increasing the number of gambling plays. Or, the action can advance an indirect goal of the gambling establishment. For example, the action may increase the player's enjoyment or increase and spread the gambling establishments brand awareness to a broader market of players and potential players.
  • a gambling establishment uses features of a social network application to allow players to take social network actions that the gambling establishment desires. Upon taking such actions, players are rewarded with incentives.
  • incentives can be tangible incentives made available through the gambling establishment's player club, Customer Management System, or other gambling establishment system or platform.
  • incentives that could be provided include free slot play in a gambling establishment, a second chance drawing for a lottery, a free meal at a restaurant, a t- shirt, a discount coupon at a retailer, etc.
  • the incentives may be less tangible or completely intangible.
  • a few examples include a social networking application badge or virtual good, a prominent position on a competitive leader board, providing the player with an easy to carpool to a gambling establishment, the personal enjoyment derived from keeping in touch with friends by using social networking features of the system, etc.
  • the gambling establishment may be a casino and the social network may be Facebook.
  • the casino may use a Facebook application that allows players to broadcast casino related status updates to other members of Facebook.
  • a player may be permitted to send, within the Facebook application program, a status update such as "Heading to Casino XYZ - anyone want a ride?" or "Just won 500 playing poker at the XYZ" to other members within their social network.
  • the gambling establishment may be a lottery, or an authorized lottery establishment or retailer and the social network may be Facebook.
  • the lottery, authorized lottery establishment or retailer may use a Facebook application that allows players to broadcast lottery "rewards" or "loyalty” club-related activity as status updates to other members of Facebook.
  • a player may be permitted to send, within the Facebook application program, a status update such as "I just won $200 in Jackpot Cash” or "I'm a fan of the $1,000,000 Lottobucks Jackpot” to other members within their social network.
  • a status update such as "I just won $200 in Jackpot Cash” or "I'm a fan of the $1,000,000 Lottobucks Jackpot”
  • Such updates may be initiated by the player within the social networking application.
  • Such updates may be automatically sent by a social networking application when particular events occur, such as a win by the player, play by the player, or other triggering event.
  • the rules of Facebook require the player to authorize such status updates from the gambling establishment's Facebook application
  • incentives may be provided that is based on an authorization status within the Facebook, other social networking application, website, or websites.
  • the gambling establishment may offer the player $10 of free slot play per month for any month in which the player has authorized the Facebook application.
  • the gambling establishment may also provide the player an additional $1 of free slot play for every gambling establishment-related status update sent by the player, up to $10 additional dollars per month.
  • the gambling establishment's Facebook application may also allow the player to perform other actions that can be incentivized, such as an action of referring Facebook friends to join the gambling establishment's player club.
  • a person's social network may be leveraged.
  • the gambling establishment awards the player with $20 in free slot play for every successful referral. Earned free slot play may be credited to and accessible via the player's gambling establishment loyalty account.
  • the gambling establishment may provide the player a reward of perceived or intangible value, such as a "top recruiter" badge, icon, or other status indicator that is displayed in the player's Facebook and/or loyalty club account.
  • This status can also be displayed on a loyalty club leader board, the gambling establishment's Facebook Fan Page, or any other location and/or interface that increases the perceived status and value of the award.
  • Players who recruit more new players receive an enhanced award, such as "gold level recruiter” or "platinum level recruiter” badge.
  • These status badges may be earned, for example, on a monthly basis, and players who cease to recruit new players will lose their status. That is, certain incentives or statuses may degrade over time, especially if the desired actions are not maintained.
  • this example can include any number of tangible or intangible incentives and corresponding gambling establishment-desired actions that can achieve any number of gambling establishment goals, and that furthermore, similar examples exist for many other types of gambling establishments and social networks.
  • some of the desired social networking actions are executed automatically through integration with gambling establishment systems.
  • various embodiments are discussed herein with respect to gaming and gambling establishment-based systems, various aspects of the invention may be applied equally to lottery and lottery-based systems.
  • a distributed system may be provided wherein actions performed by players in a social networking application cause incentives to be provided by a gaming system.
  • a social networking application may interface with a social networking application 101 that executes on one or more computer systems.
  • Such computer systems may include, for example, PDAs, cell phones, pad-based computer, desktop computer, kiosk, electronic gaming machine consoles, or any other computer type.
  • Such a social networking application may include an application that interfaces with the well-known Facebook or My Space social networking systems, although other social networking applications may be used (e.g., Twitter, Linkedln, Foursquare, etc.).
  • a gaming system 102 is configured to communicate with an application on a social networking platform to provide awards (e.g., item 108) to players (e.g., item 103) based on observed player behavior and/or status 107 achieved in the social networking application.
  • a gaming operator network may maintain a player database having player entries that are correlated to persons within the social network. If particular behaviors of the player are detected in the social networking application, or otherwise that player achieves a certain status, the player may be provided an award by the gaming system (e.g., item 102). This behavior may be observed through actions that players take while operating the social networking application.
  • a player may receive an award.
  • Such awards may be in the form of an incentive that causes the player to perform actions a certain way or continue to perform in a certain way. These actions may be those that benefit a gaming operator, such as a gambling establishment.
  • One example of an action that may be performed by a player in a social network includes setting an authorization status of a gambling establishment application to send and receive messages within the social networking application.
  • a corresponding incentive may be awarded by the gambling establishment to that player in exchange for the opportunity to send messages to that player, such as complimentary credits that can be used in the gambling establishment, a special status within the social networking application (e.g., a badge), or other incentive type.
  • the player may receive an incentive. For instance, if a player send a message regarding the gambling establishment to another player or otherwise refers that other player to the gambling establishment, the player may receive an incentive. If the player achieves a certain amount of incentives in a particular timeframe, that player may also be provided a change in status (e.g., top recruiter).
  • the gaming system 102 may be configured to communicate with players within a social networking application.
  • players identified in a player database of a gaming system may be communicated with if the player's identity is known in the social networking application (e.g., in the Facebook application, the player's Facebook username).
  • the gaming system may then communicate with the user while that user is within the social network, and the gaming system may also publish information to and read information from the social network. This may be beneficial to the gaming system, as the gaming system may develop better communications regarding the player and may reach other potential players in the player's network.
  • the social networking application may be configured to communicate to the player through the gaming system 102 or through a loyalty or rewards website.
  • players identified in a player database of a gaming system e.g., database 105
  • the social network may then communicate with the user while that user is within the gaming system, loyalty or rewards club website.
  • the social network may also publish information to and read information from the gaming system or loyalty or rewards club website. This may be beneficial to the social network and the loyalty or rewards club website, as the social network may develop better communications regarding the player and may reach other potential players in the player's network, through the gaming system or loyalty or rewards club website.
  • the social networking application may be configured to communicate or incentivize the player through the gaming system 102 or through a printed medium that is connected to the gaming system, such as lottery or promotional scratch ticket, direct-mail marketing pieces or billboards.
  • virtual currency can be printed as a prize opportunity on a lottery scratch ticket.
  • a player can then take that virtual currency printed on the scratch ticket and use that virtual currency within the social network or social networking application.
  • "Facebook Credit” can be used as a prize currency to incentivize engagement by the player, with the gaming system or the social network, through the printed medium and redeemed through the social network, social network application, gaming system, loyalty or rewards website.
  • FIG. 2 shows example interactions between a social networking application 201 and gaming system 202 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • social networking application may be any social networking application provided on any type of social networking platform (e.g., Facebook).
  • Gaming system 202 may be any type of gaming system, including a Casino Management System (CMS), server-based gaming system, gambling system or machine, or any other system in control by a gaming or gambling operator.
  • CMS Casino Management System
  • a player performs a desired action within the social networking application 201.
  • a notification of the action may be communicated to the gaming system 202.
  • This communication may be in the form of a message sent in one or more communication protocols.
  • a determination of an incentive may be performed (e.g., by a gaming system processor).
  • This incentive may be determined in any manner, such as a rules-based incentive system where actions that are performed may trigger one or more rules, which cause the gaming system 202 to provide the incentive.
  • Gaming system 202 may provide a notification of the incentive which is sent to the social networking application, which is subsequently displayed to the player.
  • the gaming system 202 may provide unsolicited incentives to the player within the social networking application or the actions may be performed by the player on one or more systems associated with the gaming operator. For instance, the gaming system, having identified the player uniquely in the gaming system, may evaluate that person and make them eligible for some type incentive that can be communicated to the social networking application, or may communicate any other type of status to the social networking application. This communication may be provided to the player or to others in the player's network (e.g., in the Facebook application, communications may be sent to Friends of the player). As a result, the gaming system 202 may more effectively engage the player, communicate with the player and/or player's network, and incentivize the player and others to use the gaming operator's services.
  • the gaming system having identified the player uniquely in the gaming system, may evaluate that person and make them eligible for some type incentive that can be communicated to the social networking application, or may communicate any other type of status to the social networking application. This communication may be provided to the player or to others in the player's network (e.g., in
  • selected actions performed by the player trigger automatic execution of social networking actions. For example, when a player plays second chance games through the gambling establishment's player loyalty club, Facebook status updates and Twitter postings are automatically triggered each time the player experiences a substantial award.
  • a casino's Casino Management System (CMS) or server based gaming system can send a Facebook status update or Twitter posting automatically each time the player has a substantial win on a slot machine or a table game.
  • a lottery point of sale terminal can send a Facebook status update when a player purchases the new Holiday scratch ticket.
  • gambling establishment's mobile device application may determine, via the devices GPS, that a player has arrived at the gambling establishment and can automatically send a Twitter update saying "I just arrived at XYZ's.”
  • status information and actions may be initiated and transferred between a social networking system and a CMS or server based gaming system.
  • information from the gambling establishment can be automatically published to the social network. For example, when lottery's jackpot reaches $100 million, a message is automatically published to the lottery's Facebook fan page, a Twitter post is published, and/or a notice is sent to all the lottery's Facebook fans.
  • Information may be published in a variety of ways, including, without limitation, an email message, text message or other notification type, live feed, update to a web page, or update shown in a social networking application program.
  • FIG. 3 shows a process 300 for distributing incentives to players in a social network application according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • a block 301 process 300 begins.
  • a player performs an action within a social networking application. For instance, a player refers a friend in his/her network to a gaming location.
  • a rule is triggered based on the action performed by the player.
  • Such a rule may be, for example, implemented in an application executing on a client system associated with the player, and may be triggered based on actions performed by the player.
  • the referring player may be provided an incentive, such as an award of noncashable credits that can be used at a gaming location.
  • a notification of an action may be sent to a gaming system (e.g., system 202). This notification may be sent in the form of a message transmitted in one or more communication protocols.
  • the gaming system may determine an incentive to be awarded to the player based on the action performed. Certain actions may be correlated to particular awards at the gaming system, or the award may random, based on an inventory of available awards, or may be determined by other methods.
  • a notification of the incentive may be sent by the gaming system to the social networking application at block 306.
  • the player may be displayed the incentive at block 307. Such a display may be performed, for instance, by displaying an indication in a graphical user interface of the social networking application.
  • process 300 ends.
  • a gaming system may be configured to communicate information to players via a social networking application. Status information, advertisements, information about the gambling facility, incentives and other information may be communicated to one or more players that use the social networking application.
  • Figure 4 shows one example of a process 400 for distributing incentives by a gaming system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Although Figure 4 shows the distribution of incentives, it should be appreciated that the gaming system could distribute any information to the social networking application.
  • process 400 begins.
  • the gaming system identifies the player uniquely in the system. This may be accomplished, for example, by identifying the player uniquely by a player identifier, loyalty club identifier or other method for identifying the player uniquely. This identifying information may be mapped to an identifier that identifies the player uniquely in the social networking system (e.g., a Facebook user identifier). This information may be collected from the player, for instance, within a registration page presented by the social networking application or other application that allows the player to associate their social networking identity with the identity stored in the gaming system. This identification information may be stored in a database of the gaming system.
  • the gaming system may optionally determine an incentive to the player.
  • a notification of this incentive can be subsequently transferred to a social networking system.
  • an application on a social networking platform may store a record of available incentives and determine the incentive to be awarded on an ad hoc or other basis.
  • the incentive or other information provided by the gaming system is displayed to the player in the social networking application.
  • process 400 ends.
  • a player may be awarded an incentive in response to changing an authorization status for an application.
  • it may be beneficial to a gaming/gambling organization and its systems to be provided access to a player and their network for the purpose of enhancing a player's experience and otherwise reaching the player and his/her network.
  • incentive may be provided by a gaming system to the social networking application and this incentive may be displayed to the player.
  • FIG. 5 shows one embodiment of a process for providing incentives based on authorization status according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • process 500 begins.
  • a player logs into a social network platform and application, which can be, as discussed above, the Facebook platform.
  • the player may authorize an application associated with the gaming system to access social networking functions and data. For instance, in the Facebook social networking platform, and application may be authenticated to the social networking platform by obtaining an authentication token for the particular user.
  • the social networking application and/or the gaming system may determine an incentive for the player based on the player granting access to their data.
  • the social networking application may display that awarded incentive to the player.
  • process 500 ends.
  • the player club may be integrated with one or more reveal games.
  • a player may be permitted to play one or more Internet-based games, and during play of such games, an awarded incentive may be revealed to the player.
  • players receive incentives through the player club to take certain gambling- establishment-desired actions in the social network, and these incentives are awarded through the reveal games.
  • Figure 6 shows one example process of integrating incentives that can be revealed during play of a reveal-based game according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • process 600 begins.
  • a player plays an online game, such a reveal- based game as discussed above in which one or more results may be displayed to the player during play of the game.
  • a player may perform an action while playing the game, such as a desired action that should be incentivized by the gaming operator.
  • a notification may be sent to the gaming system identifying the desired action, and an incentive may be determined based on the action at block 605.
  • a notification of the awarded incentive may be sent to a game -playing computer associated with the player.
  • the game -playing computer may be the computer on which the player is currently playing the reveal-based game.
  • the game -playing computer may be any type of computer system, such as a cell phone, PDA, mobile computer or other computer system type.
  • the incentive may be displayed to the play within the interface of the reveal game.
  • the awarding of the incentive may be displayed in a particular designated area of the screen (e.g., a messages or chat area).
  • the award me be integrated into the game, and the awarding of the incentive may be integrated into any result displayed by the game, or may modify the results displayed.
  • the awarded incentive may include noncashable credits to be redeemed at a gambling establishment, and the game -playing computer may modify the result of a game (e.g., a slot machine game) to award the player the non-cashable credits within the interface.
  • process 600 ends.
  • the gambling establishment may be a gambling establishment with a loyalty club that includes integrated reveal games
  • the social network may be Facebook.
  • the reveal system in this example may require that the player acquire game credits in order to play the reveal games.
  • the gambling establishment may implement a Facebook application that allows players to broadcast gambling establishment-related status updates to other members of Facebook. Because the Facebook application requires that the player authorize the gambling establishment's Facebook application, the gambling establishment may offer the player an incentive to the player to authorize the Facebook application. For instance, the gambling establishment may offer the player 100 game credits per month for any month in which the player has authorized the Facebook application.
  • the gambling establishment may provide additional incentives for continued desirable actions. For instance, the gambling establishment may provide the player an additional 50 game credits for every gambling establishment-related status update sent by the player, up to 500 additional credits per month. Additionally, the gambling establishment awards the player 100 game credits for every successful new player referral made by the player.
  • the gambling establishment-desired social network actions performed by the player are rewarded by giving the player increased status within in the game system or by giving the player increased access to the game system.
  • players who recruit new players may be rewarded with a point multiplier status. For instance, players who recruit at least two new players per month have all their awarded game credits doubled for that month. Players who recruit at least 5 new players have all their game credits tripled for that month.
  • certain games are only available for players who maintain a "gold level recruiter" or higher status. In another embodiment, players with a lower status may not be permitted to play a selected subset of games.
  • this example could include any number of reveal-game-related or other incentives, awards, and gambling establishment- desired actions that can achieve any number of gambling establishment goals, and that furthermore, similar examples exist for many other types of gambling establishments and social networks.
  • the gambling establishment defines an engagement structure or tree that details an entire set of gambling-establishment-desired player actions and corresponding incentives.
  • Figure 7 shows an example tree 700 that defines the player actions that are desired and the incentives awarded to the player.
  • each desired action is represented by a node (e.g., node 701) in the tree structure.
  • node 701 e.g., node 701
  • node/action sequence 703 may be accomplished in parallel with sequence 704.
  • sequence 706 can only be achieved by accomplishing sequence 705.
  • the system e.g., the social networking application and/or gaming system stores and maintains the player's state in the engagement structure (e.g., tree structure 700).
  • the player may be notified of their state as they move through nodes of the engagement structure (e.g., by message, by presentation of a status within an application interface, or by other notification type).
  • This state information may be represented to the player as one or more type and level of player status and may serve to motivate the player to continue to improve their status.
  • certain undesired actions or inaction may negatively impact the player's progress through the engagement structure, effectively decreasing the player's status and returning them to prior nodes and lower status.
  • This functionality may act as an additional incentive for the player to not only improve status, but also to work to maintain existing status.
  • the player can be more easily enticed to progress through the engagement structure and feel a sense of success and achievement as they see their status increase.
  • This positive feedback motivates the player to continue to subsequent nodes and increase status even further.
  • the player's status increases, they feel increased motivation to maintain and improve their status. This leads to increased engagement and enjoyment by the player and increases the likelihood that the gambling establishment will accomplish its desired goals.
  • the engagement structure is implemented via a social network based game that is integrated with reveal-type games as discussed above.
  • This game may be configured to store the player's state of play and thereby allow the player to continue to play the game over multiple play sessions over an extended period of time. As the game play progresses, the player achieves increased status and success in the game.
  • the game allows players to interact with other members of the social network and with other players of the game, improving the gaming experience by making the game more social and also providing the gambling establishment with access to a broader range of players and potential players.
  • the gambling establishment may be a casino and the game may be a war-like game played via the casino's Facebook application.
  • the goal of the game in this example is to build an army, amass weapons and equipment, and attempt to conquer the world.
  • the player successfully progresses through the game they are rewarded with increased status. This increased status helps them progress even further through the game and increases their likelihood of success.
  • Some incentives in the game may be intangible incentives that come from simply playing the game, such as enjoyment of playing the game and a corresponding desire to succeed and watch the game progress. But other incentives are tied directly to the engagement structure and corresponding casino-desired player actions. Some of these incentives and rewards may also be intangibles, while others are more tangible rewards.
  • one goal of the gambling establishment may be to entice the player to log in to the Facebook application each day and play the game, thereby keeping the player engaged with the gambling establishment' s brand and giving the gambling establishment an opportunity to interact with the player.
  • the game may, in one example, award players with an award (e.g., 10 reveal game credits) for each day that the player has logged in.
  • the game may penalize the player for not logging in by removing an incentive (e.g., removing 3 player status points) for each day the player does not log in.
  • one goal of the gambling establishment may be to sign up new players to the game and thereby increase the size of its player's club.
  • the gambling establishment may award an incentive to the player (e.g., 10 reveal game play credits) for each referral.
  • each referral may also earn the player additional elements that could advance the player in the game (e.g., an award of weapons and equipment in a war game).
  • Success in the game may also provide the player with additional incentives and benefits. For example, some reveal games may only be made available to players who have attained a minimum status level. Similarly, certain status levels or successfully completed actions enable the player to use better paying pay tables when playing specific reveal games.
  • incentives and awards there are numerous additional examples of incentives and awards.
  • players who maintain a certain status may be rewarded by having exclusive access to certain games in the gambling establishment.
  • players may be rewarded with better pay tables when they play electronic gaming machines in the gambling establishment.
  • specific completed actions or achieved status may unlock special features of an electronic gaming machine which are otherwise not accessible.
  • incentives and awards There are many additional examples for providing incentives and awards.
  • Second chance style reveal games can provide even further incentives.
  • Traditional ticket-based second chance games are well-known, but according to one example, an online reveal-based second chance game may be provided that are associated with primary games that are predetermined (e.g., scratch ticket), after-determined (e.g., lottery draw) or other type of game where second chance games may be associated.
  • primary games e.g., scratch ticket
  • after-determined e.g., lottery draw
  • winning or losing lottery plays associated with second chance games could be integrated into the online reveal-based game.
  • losing lottery scratch tickets could be used as currency to gain more weapons and equipment in a war game.
  • a losing lottery scratch ticket could be used to play a second chance game in which the awards are weapons, equipment, increased status, or some other beneficial award.
  • information gathered through interaction with the system via various aspects and embodiments can be used to build and enhance a profile of the player and model the player' s behavior or predicted behavior.
  • This profile and modeling information can be used for many purposes, and this information can be added directly to a gambling establishment's customer management system, player club system, or other system or platform.
  • the profile information can be used to customize game play, select the incentives most likely to be effective, or otherwise customize aspects of the system to best match the profile and model of the player.
  • the profile and model information may be used to select marketing ads and material that are most likely to appeal to the player.
  • the gaming system e.g., gaming system 202
  • a social network and/or social networking application can be integrated with a player loyalty club, but it can simultaneously be integrated with a customer management system, a marketing system, and server based gaming system. Similarly, these integration points need not be tied to only one social network.
  • One or more gambling establishment systems can be integrated
  • the various systems of a gambling establishment may send automated and player initiated status updates to Facebook, automated and player initiated posts to Twitter, and photos to Flickr.
  • the various aspects, embodiments and examples are equally and in some cases even more effective when integrated among multiple gambling establishment system and social networks.
  • a reverse API that can be made available to the social network to enhance the network or other social gaming experiences.
  • game publishers such as Electronic Arts could use the API to push/pull in data about the gambler to enhance the play of an online social game.
  • EA could entice players to play their games for player club points or play games on property for EA credit.
  • an API may be provided that permits social networking platforms to push and pull data stored in a gaming or other system managed by a gaming operator for the purpose of enhancing their network and functionality.
  • gambling establishment refers to any lawful gambling establishment, either physical or online or both.
  • Physical casinos, Internet casinos, lotteries, racetracks, betting shops and Internet gaming establishments are common examples of such gambling establishments that are lawful in certain jurisdictions.
  • some gambling establishments may provide gaming as a subset of other offerings or services. For example, a bar or restaurant whose primary business is selling food and drinks may also provide Keno gaming. Similarly, a convenience store whose primary business is selling retail items may also sell lottery tickets. It can further be appreciated that all aspects of this invention may be applied to any other entities that represent a lawful gambling establishment. These gambling establishments may be accessed at physical locations or online or both.
  • social network is intended to be interpreted to mean any private or public network accessible or online platform or system that enables multiple members of a community to interact and engage with each other.
  • the term online refers to access of one or more of the invention's components via a computer, phone, handheld device, or similar device. Such online access typically occurs through the Internet, a private or public computer network, or a similar network.
  • the term "player club” refers to any grouping of an establishment's patrons that confers some tangible or perceived benefit to the members of the group. For example, such a Players Club may take the form or a mailing list (USPS, email, or other), a loyalty program, an online members-only area, or some other grouping of patrons.
  • social networking functions may be implemented on or otherwise integrated with a server-based gaming system such as the server- based gaming system (e.g., server-based gaming system 801) shown by way of example in Figure 8.
  • server-based gaming system e.g., server-based gaming system 801 shown by way of example in Figure 8.
  • server-based gaming system e.g., server-based gaming system 801 shown by way of example in Figure 8.
  • server-based gaming system e.g., server-based gaming system 801
  • server-based gaming system 801 shown by way of example in Figure 8.
  • server-based gaming system such as the server-based gaming system 801 shown by way of example in Figure 8.
  • Games that may benefit by such social networking functions include any type of game offered in the gaming location including, but not limited to, games of chance, games of skill and chance, table-based games (e.g., poker, roulette, blackjack), card-based games such as video poker, video slot machines, among others.
  • games of chance games of skill and chance
  • table-based games e.g., poker, roulette, blackjack
  • card-based games such as video poker, video slot machines, among others.
  • players may be permitted to use various social networking features depending on the games they are playing, and the type of access that can be provided.
  • the games may be hosted by the server-based gaming system or other system type (e.g., a gaming server located on the Internet). Such games may be integrated with the social networking platform (e.g., Facebook) as discussed above.
  • the games may be FLASH-based, HTML-based or implement any other type of programming as known in the art.
  • the game may be implemented as a FLASH object and embedded in a web page. It should be appreciated that the game programming may be stand alone or reside in a number of locations (e.g., on a network) and execute on one or more computer systems.
  • table games such as poker, blackjack and roulette become more automated, information may be shared between players of these types of games.
  • Data created through play of such games may be downloaded and displayed to players inside the gaming location or to persons located outside the gaming location. For instance, such data may be used to replay actual table game play at a later time (e.g., to perform strategy analysis, perform training, replay a player's own play with friends within a social networking tool, etc.).
  • Other types of games such as video poker may provide data to the social network that can be viewed and shared with other players.
  • Another social networking function that may be useful in a gaming setting may include permitting a player to set up wagering games between himself/herself and other people.
  • other community-type gaming games may benefit by having social networking functions.
  • slot tournaments, multi-player bonus rounds, and other community-based games offered within the casino location may be provided social networking functions according to various embodiments.
  • a player may be permitted to set up their own slot tournament (e.g., with just your friends in the player's network).
  • a player may be permitted to connect his/her slot machine that they are currently using with friends playing another slot machine (e.g., of the same type), but in a different bank of machines. For instance, this may permit the players in the social network to all enter the same bonus round.
  • the player can play convention machines with their social network in a more flexible way, without the typical machine-based limitations currently present in conventional gaming locations.
  • Other social networking functions may permit, for example, a player to set up a leaderboard among people in their social network (e.g., their friends), set up one or more progressive jackpots among people in their social network, or other organization of gaming activities or sharing of information within the player's social network.
  • monitoring and sharing of information may be useful for other entities not within the social network of the player.
  • information shared within the social network by advertisers may be useful to provide offers to those players (e.g., for a defined social group, monitor all members of the defined social group and reward those players who have lost their limit earlier than other players, thus providing an incentive to gamble at a higher rate).
  • the usefulness of such monitoring and sharing of information can be further enhanced using the player's geolocation. For instance, offers by advertisers can be made more effective by providing offers that are physically near the player, or otherwise offers that are more convenient for the player to take advantage. As in the prior example, a player who had just lost their limit earlier than other players in his/her group might be provided a coupon for a sandwich at a restaurant across the walkway from the player's present location. In another example, alerts regarding customer service issues could report not only the specific issue but also the player's physical location.
  • the server based gaming system generally includes one or more server-based systems and a number of terminals through which players can interact to play wagering games.
  • Such games may include, for instance, video poker, slots, or other types of games of chance, and some games involving various levels of skill.
  • Terminals may include displays through which games and other information are displayed to the player.
  • the terminal may also include any number of input devices, such as a card reader (e.g., configured to read frequent player program cards), payment system that accepts wagers (e.g., in either physical or electronic form).
  • the terminals may also be touch- based terminals that receive inputs from players by touching the display. Other inputs may be provided, such as a mouse, trackball, or other point devices, keyboards or other input device type.
  • server-based gaming system may also include one or more player tracking systems (e.g., a system associated with a frequent player tracking system), or may be implemented within such a frequent player tracking system.
  • the server- based gaming system may include other types of systems for the purposes of permitting exchange of player information using social networking functions for monitoring,
  • social networking features may be provided to players at terminals of a server-based gaming system (e.g., terminal 802 of server-based gaming system 801). For instance, when the player plays a game at a server-based gaming terminal, the player is presented in the display of the terminal, one or more indications related to a social networking feature. Such indications may be displayed in addition to game information while the player is playing a game. Alternatively, when a game is not active, there may be a host of social networking functions available to the player through the terminal interface. Typically, these interfaces include one or more displays (including additional displays such as LCDs) that perform various functions relating to the games and other related functions. It is appreciated that some of these terminal types are being provided with more capable interfaces, and according to one implementation, social network features may be provided on such additional terminals.
  • players are permitted to play games using wireless devices while the players are on the gaming location property.
  • Social networking features may also be implemented in these types of devices as well.
  • Such devices may also provide some additional features, such as determining the geolocation of the player within the gambling location, and communication features that are native to the wireless devices. It should be appreciated that other types of devices may be used to implement various aspects described herein.
  • FIG. 8 shows an example system 800 in which various aspects of the present invention may be implemented.
  • system 800 includes a private network which includes systems, networks, and other elements located at gaming location 806.
  • social networking functions are performed by a server-based gaming system such as system 801.
  • System 801 generally includes one or more terminals (e.g., terminal 802), upon which one or more games are played by players.
  • Terminal 802 may include one or more displays 803 that display to the player information relating to the gaming location and/or games that are played by the player at the terminal.
  • Terminal 802 may also include one or more input devices 804 that permit the player to provide input to the gaming terminal.
  • the terminal may include a mouse, track ball, or other pointing device used to select and activate social networking functions.
  • the terminal may include a keyboard, number pad, or other method of inputting information at the terminal.
  • the terminal may include a card reader, bar code reader, or other type of input device that reads frequent player cards or other identification provided by the player.
  • social networking functions process information provided by a player at a terminal, and use such information to process, generate, or display other information to other players at other terminals of the server-based gaming system 801.
  • the server-based gaming system 801 may also be adapted to communicate with one or more portable terminals or gaming devices 805 for the purpose of playing games within gaming location 806.
  • server-based gaming system 801 may be adapted to display to the player (e.g., in one or more displays 803), one or more social networking functions that may be activated and used by the player at the terminal or other gaming device at the gaming location 806.
  • Such social networking functions may also communicate and use information provided by one or more external systems such as a gaming establishment management system 807 (e.g., a casino management system (CMS)), a frequent player tracking system 808, payment system 809, and one or more gaming machines or systems 810.
  • CMS casino management system
  • a frequent player tracking system 808, payment system 809 e.g., a gaming machines or systems 810.
  • the gaming establishment management system 807 may also store and provide other information about the player such as player rating, visit frequency, or other behavioral data relating to the player.
  • the server-based gaming system may be integrated with a frequent player tracking system 808 which tracks the performance of the player in one or more gaming locations and awards points to the player for continued patronage.
  • a frequent player tracking system 808 which tracks the performance of the player in one or more gaming locations and awards points to the player for continued patronage.
  • such systems may provide performance information, point totals, or other information relating to the player that may be used in association with one or more social networking functions.
  • Server-based gaming system 801 may integrate with one or more other systems including payment systems (e.g., system 809), social networking sites (e.g., element 814), ad networks (e.g., element 815), or other systems either located at the gaming location 806 or anywhere throughout the public network.
  • payment systems e.g., system 809
  • social networking sites e.g., element 814
  • ad networks e.g., element 815
  • the server-based gaming system 801 may also communicate player performance information with one or more stand-alone gaming machines 810 which may themselves store information about the player and his/her performance. Further, social networking functions may be integrated within such stand-alone gaming machines or in associated displays (e.g., LCD displays coupled to a gaming machine).
  • social networking functions may be used within the public network by users (e.g., user 811) operating one or more end systems such as PCs (e.g., system 816) and/or other devices that are coupled to communication network 813 (e.g., portable communication device 812 such as a PDA, cell phone or other device).
  • end systems such as PCs (e.g., system 816) and/or other devices that are coupled to communication network 813 (e.g., portable communication device 812 such as a PDA, cell phone or other device).
  • communication network 813 e.g., portable communication device 812 such as a PDA, cell phone or other device.
  • players may play one or more games integrated with a social network on one or more end systems (e.g., system 816).
  • Figure 9 shows another environment suitable for implementing various aspects of the present invention.
  • Figure 9 shows a distributed system 900 in which a user or customer (elements 901, 902) receives an invitation to play one or more electronic games.
  • the system may deliver an invitation to the player.
  • the invitation may be delivered using any of the methods previously described herein.
  • the player may receive an invitation to play the electronic game, and may play the electronic game on a computer 908 (e.g., a personal computer (PC)).
  • a computer 908 e.g., a personal computer (PC)
  • PC personal computer
  • play of the online game may provide information to the social network, or otherwise the player may access social networking functions while playing the online game. This capability may permit the player to communicate with one or more players located at the gaming location.
  • the user may play a game over a distributed network such as the Internet (element 907).
  • the game may be a web-based game that implements one or more server systems, such as web/application server 906 and/or database server 905.
  • the user that is provided the invitation may be identified in a player tracking system or another casino system.
  • the user may be identified in a casino player tracking system 904.
  • player tracking systems are implemented in casinos, it should be appreciated that various aspects of the invention may be applied to player tracking systems implemented in other environments (e.g., slot parlors, racinos, amongst others).
  • Processes and methods associated with various embodiments, acts thereof and various embodiments and variations of these methods and acts, individually or in combination, may be defined by computer-readable signals tangibly embodied on a computer-readable medium, for example, a non-volatile recording medium, an integrated circuit memory element, or a combination thereof.
  • Such signals may define instructions, for example, as part of one or more programs, that, as a result of being executed by a computer, instruct the computer to perform one or more of the methods or acts described herein, and/or various embodiments, variations and combinations thereof.
  • Such instructions may be written in any of a plurality of programming languages, for example, Java, Visual Basic, C, C#, or C++, Fortran, Pascal, Eiffel, Basic, COBOL, etc., or any of a variety of combinations thereof.
  • the computer- readable medium on which such instructions are stored may reside on one or more of the components of a general-purpose computer described above, and may be distributed across one or more of such components.
  • the computer-readable medium may be transportable such that the instructions stored thereon can be loaded onto any computer system resource to implement the aspects of the present invention discussed herein.
  • the instructions stored on the computer-readable medium, described above are not limited to instructions embodied as part of an application program running on a host computer. Rather, the instructions may be embodied as any type of computer code (e.g., software or microcode) that can be employed to program a processor to implement the above-discussed aspects of the present invention.
  • Various embodiments according to the invention may be implemented on one or more computer systems. These computer systems may be, for example, general-purpose computers such as those based on Intel PENTIUM-type processor, Motorola PowerPC, Sun UltraSPARC, Hewlett-Packard PA-RISC processors, or any other type of processor. It should be appreciated that one or more of any type computer system may be used to partially or fully automate play of the described game according to various embodiments of the invention. Further, the software design system may be located on a single computer or may be distributed among a plurality of computers attached by a communications network.
  • the computer system may include specially-programmed, special-purpose hardware, for example, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).
  • ASIC application-specific integrated circuit
  • aspects of the invention may be implemented in software, hardware or firmware, or any combination thereof. Further, such methods, acts, systems, system elements and components thereof may be implemented as part of the computer system described above or as an independent component.
  • a computer system may be a general-purpose computer system that is programmable using a high-level computer programming language. Computer system may be also implemented using specially programmed, special purpose hardware.
  • processor In a computer system there may be a processor that is typically a commercially available processor such as the well- known Pentium class processor available from the Intel Corporation. Many other processors are available.
  • Such a processor usually executes an operating system which may be, for example, the Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000 (Windows ME), Windows XP, or Windows Visa operating systems available from the Microsoft Corporation, MAC OS System X available from Apple Computer, the Solaris Operating System available from Sun Microsystems, or UNIX available from various sources. Many other operating systems may be used.
  • an operating system which may be, for example, the Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000 (Windows ME), Windows XP, or Windows Visa operating systems available from the Microsoft Corporation, MAC OS System X available from Apple Computer, the Solaris Operating System available from Sun Microsystems, or UNIX available from various sources. Many other operating systems may be used.
  • the processor and operating system together define a computer platform for which application programs in high-level programming languages are written. It should be understood that the invention is not limited to a particular computer system platform, processor, operating system, or network. Also, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to a specific programming language or computer system. Further, it should be appreciated that other appropriate programming languages and other appropriate computer systems could also be used.
  • One or more portions of the computer system may be distributed across one or more computer systems coupled to a communications network. These computer systems also may be general-purpose computer systems. For example, various aspects of the invention may be distributed among one or more computer systems configured to provide a service (e.g., servers) to one or more client computers, or to perform an overall task as part of a distributed system. For example, various aspects of the invention may be performed on a client-server system that includes components distributed among one or more server systems that perform various functions according to various embodiments of the invention. These components may be executable, intermediate (e.g., IL) or interpreted (e.g., Java) code which communicate over a communication network (e.g., the Internet) using a communication protocol (e.g., TCP/IP).
  • a communication network e.g., the Internet
  • a communication protocol e.g., TCP/IP
  • the invention is not limited to executing on any particular system or group of systems. Also, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited to any particular distributed architecture, network, or communication protocol.
  • Various embodiments of the present invention may be programmed using an object- oriented programming language, such as SmallTalk, Java, C++, Ada, or C# (C-Sharp). Other object-oriented programming languages may also be used. Alternatively, functional, scripting, and/or logical programming languages may be used.
  • Various aspects of the invention may be implemented in a non-programmed environment (e.g., documents created in HTML, XML or other format that, when viewed in a window of a browser program, render aspects of a graphical-user interface (GUI) or perform other functions).
  • GUI graphical-user interface
  • Various aspects of the invention may be implemented as programmed or non-programmed elements, or any combination thereof.
  • each of the components may reside in one or more locations on the system.
  • different portions of the components of system 101 may reside in different areas of memory (e.g., RAM, ROM, disk, etc.) on the system.
  • Each of such one or more systems may include, among other components, a plurality of known components such as one or more processors, a memory system, a disk storage system, one or more network interfaces, and one or more busses or other internal communication links interconnecting the various components.
  • System 101 may be implemented on a computer system described below in relation to Figs. 10 and 11.
  • System 101 is merely an illustrative embodiment of the server-based gaming system. Such an illustrative embodiment is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as any of numerous other implementations of the -based gaming system, for example, are possible and are intended to fall within the scope of the invention.
  • social networking functions may be implemented in a casino management system (CMS), frequent player tracking system, or other type of system used at the gaming location.
  • CMS casino management system
  • None of the claims set forth below are intended to be limited to any particular implementation of the betting system unless such claim includes a limitation explicitly reciting a particular implementation.
  • Various embodiments according to the invention may be implemented on one or more computer systems. These computer systems may be, for example, general-purpose computers such as those based on Intel PENTIUM-type processor, Motorola PowerPC, Sun UltraSPARC, Hewlett-Packard PA-RISC processors, or any other type of processor. It should be appreciated that one or more of any type computer system may be used to partially or fully automate play of the described game according to various embodiments of the invention. Further, the software design system may be located on a single computer or may be distributed among a plurality of computers attached by a communications network.
  • various aspects of the invention may be implemented as specialized software executing in a general-purpose computer system 1000 such as that shown in Figure 10.
  • the computer system 1000 may include a processor 1003 connected to one or more memory devices 1004, such as a disk drive, memory, or other device for storing data.
  • Memory 1004 is typically used for storing programs and data during operation of the computer system 1000.
  • Components of computer system 1000 may be coupled by an interconnection mechanism 1005, which may include one or more busses (e.g., between components that are integrated within a same machine) and/or a network (e.g., between components that reside on separate discrete machines).
  • the interconnection mechanism 1005 enables communications (e.g., data, instructions) to be exchanged between system components of system 1000.
  • Computer system 1000 also includes one or more input devices 1002, for example, a keyboard, mouse, trackball, microphone, touch screen, and one or more output devices 1001, for example, a printing device, display screen, and/or speaker.
  • input devices 1002 for example, a keyboard, mouse, trackball, microphone, touch screen
  • output devices 1001 for example, a printing device, display screen, and/or speaker.
  • computer system 1000 may contain one or more interfaces (not shown) that connect computer system 1000 to a communication network (in addition or as an alternative to the interconnection mechanism 1005.
  • the storage system 1006 typically includes a computer readable and writeable nonvolatile recording medium 1101 in which signals are stored that define a program to be executed by the processor or information stored on or in the medium 1101 to be processed by the program.
  • the medium may, for example, be a disk or flash memory.
  • the processor causes data to be read from the nonvolatile recording medium 1101 into another memory 1102 that allows for faster access to the information by the processor than does the medium 1101.
  • This memory 1102 is typically a volatile, random access memory such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) or static memory (SRAM). It may be located in storage system 1006, as shown, or in memory system 1004, not shown.
  • DRAM dynamic random access memory
  • SRAM static memory
  • the processor 1003 generally manipulates the data within the integrated circuit memory 1004, 1102 and then copies the data to the medium 1101 after processing is completed.
  • a variety of mechanisms are known for managing data movement between the medium 1101 and the integrated circuit memory element 1004, 1102, and the invention is not limited thereto.
  • the invention is not limited to a particular memory system 1004 or storage system 1006.
  • the computer system may include specially-programmed, special-purpose hardware, for example, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).
  • ASIC application-specific integrated circuit
  • computer system 1000 is shown by way of example as one type of computer system upon which various aspects of the invention may be practiced, it should be appreciated that aspects of the invention are not limited to being implemented on the computer system as shown in Fig. 10. Various aspects of the invention may be practiced on one or more computers having a different architecture or components that that shown in Fig. 10.
  • Computer system 1000 may be a general-purpose computer system that is
  • Computer system 1000 may be also implemented using specially programmed, special purpose hardware.
  • processor 1003 is typically a commercially available processor such as the well- known Pentium class processor available from the Intel Corporation. Many other processors are available.
  • processor usually executes an operating system which may be, for example, the Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000 (Windows ME), Windows XP, or Windows Visa operating systems available from the Microsoft Corporation, MAC OS System X available from Apple Computer, the Solaris Operating System available from Sun Microsystems, or UNIX available from various sources. Many other operating systems may be used.
  • the processor and operating system together define a computer platform for which application programs in high-level programming languages are written. It should be understood that the invention is not limited to a particular computer system platform, processor, operating system, or network. Also, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to a specific programming language or computer system. Further, it should be appreciated that other appropriate programming languages and other appropriate computer systems could also be used.
  • One or more portions of the computer system may be distributed across one or more computer systems (not shown) coupled to a communications network. These computer systems also may be general-purpose computer systems. For example, various aspects of the invention may be distributed among one or more computer systems configured to provide a service (e.g., servers) to one or more client computers, or to perform an overall task as part of a distributed system. For example, various aspects of the invention may be performed on a client-server system that includes components distributed among one or more server systems that perform various functions according to various embodiments of the invention. These components may be executable, intermediate (e.g., IL) or interpreted (e.g., Java) code which communicate over a communication network (e.g., the Internet) using a communication protocol (e.g., TCP/IP).
  • a communication network e.g., the Internet
  • a communication protocol e.g., TCP/IP
  • Various embodiments of the present invention may be programmed using an object- oriented programming language, such as SmallTalk, Java, C++, Ada, or C# (C-Sharp). Other object-oriented programming languages may also be used. Alternatively, functional, scripting, and/or logical programming languages may be used. Various aspects of the invention may be implemented in a non-programmed environment (e.g., documents created in HTML, XML or other format that, when viewed in a window of a browser program, render aspects of a graphical-user interface (GUI) or perform other functions).
  • GUI graphical-user interface
  • aspects of the invention may be implemented using various Internet technologies such as, for example, the well-known Common Gateway Interface (CGI) script, PHP Hyper-text Preprocessor (PHP), Active Server Pages (ASP), HyperText Markup Language (HTML), Extensible Markup Language (XML), Java, JavaScript, Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX), Flash, and other programming methods.
  • CGI Common Gateway Interface
  • PHP PHP Hyper-text Preprocessor
  • ASP Active Server Pages
  • HTML HyperText Markup Language
  • XML Extensible Markup Language
  • Java Java
  • JavaScript JavaScript
  • AJAX Asynchronous JavaScript and XML
  • Flash Flash
  • Various aspects of the invention may be implemented as programmed or non- programmed elements, or any combination thereof.
  • the means are not intended to be limited to the means disclosed herein for performing the recited function, but are intended to cover in scope any means, known now or later developed, for performing the recited function.

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Abstract

L'invention concerne un système et un procédé qui permettent à des établissements de jeux d'augmenter l'engagement des joueurs, qui facilitent l'acquisition de nouveaux joueurs, ou qui permettent d'évoluer vers d'autres objectifs par l'utilisation de réseaux sociaux et/ou de jeux de réseaux sociaux qui sont intégrés à des systèmes d'établissement de jeux.
PCT/US2010/062340 2009-12-29 2010-12-29 Système et procédé d'augmentation de l'engagement de joueurs et d'acquisition de joueurs par l'intermédiaire d'un système de jeu social WO2011090746A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US29070909P 2009-12-29 2009-12-29
US61/290,709 2009-12-29
US12/816,149 US20110014972A1 (en) 2007-12-26 2010-06-15 System and method for managing content delivery and measuring engagement
US12/816,149 2010-06-15
US83679710A 2010-07-15 2010-07-15
US12/836,797 2010-07-15

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WO2011090746A1 true WO2011090746A1 (fr) 2011-07-28

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WO2015061235A1 (fr) * 2013-10-21 2015-04-30 Zynga Inc. Procédés et systèmes pour la promotion de multi-plateformes avec des applications de monnaie réelle
US9600978B2 (en) 2010-03-05 2017-03-21 Patent Investment & Licensing Company Entertainment game-based gaming device
US9721429B2 (en) 2014-11-11 2017-08-01 Patent Investment & Licensing Company Optimizing drawing prize awards
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US10373422B2 (en) 2010-03-05 2019-08-06 Patent Investment & Licensing Company Entertainment game-based gaming device
US9600978B2 (en) 2010-03-05 2017-03-21 Patent Investment & Licensing Company Entertainment game-based gaming device
US11715343B2 (en) 2010-03-05 2023-08-01 Acres Technology Entertainment game-based gaming device
US11011011B2 (en) 2010-03-05 2021-05-18 Acres Technology Entertainment game-based gaming device
US9886817B2 (en) 2010-03-05 2018-02-06 Patent Investment & Licensing Company Entertainment game-based gaming device
US10121309B2 (en) 2010-03-05 2018-11-06 Patent Investment & Licensing Company Entertainment game-based gaming device
WO2013061118A1 (fr) * 2011-10-27 2013-05-02 Mohammed Ameen Système de jeu social basé sur des connaissances avec des récompenses appropriées
US10937272B2 (en) 2013-09-30 2021-03-02 Acres Technology Drawing with participant interaction
US10223868B2 (en) 2013-09-30 2019-03-05 Patent Investment & Licensing Company Drawing with participant interaction
US10373434B2 (en) 2013-09-30 2019-08-06 Patent Investment & Licensing Company Drawing with participant interaction
US10387905B2 (en) 2013-10-21 2019-08-20 Zynga Inc. Methods and systems for cross-platform promotion with real money applications
WO2015061235A1 (fr) * 2013-10-21 2015-04-30 Zynga Inc. Procédés et systèmes pour la promotion de multi-plateformes avec des applications de monnaie réelle
US9984533B2 (en) 2014-11-11 2018-05-29 Patent Investment & Licensing Company Optimizing drawing prize awards
US10553074B2 (en) 2014-11-11 2020-02-04 Patent Investment & Licensing Company Optimizing drawing prize awards
US10777040B2 (en) 2014-11-11 2020-09-15 Acres Technology Optimizing drawing prize awards
US11308760B2 (en) 2014-11-11 2022-04-19 Acres Technology Optimizing drawing prize awards
US9721429B2 (en) 2014-11-11 2017-08-01 Patent Investment & Licensing Company Optimizing drawing prize awards

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