Wagering game wearables

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10699520-B2
Application number	US-201816197926-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2018
Priority date	Sep 26, 2014
Publication date	Jun 30, 2020
Grant date	Jun 30, 2020

Abstract

A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include detecting that one or more wearable computers are within a proximity range to a wagering game machine. In some examples, the operations further include determining one or more characteristics associated with the one or more wearable computers in response to the detecting that the one or more wearable computers are within the proximity range to the wagering game machine. In some examples, the operations further include providing a feature associated with a wagering game based on the one or more characteristics of the one or more wearable computers.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wagering game machine configured to present a casino wagering game, the wagering game machine comprising:
a controller configured to:
receive a first signal from a wearable computer worn by a player touching the wagering game machine, the first signal being communicated from the wearable computer to the wagering game machine via electrical conductivity of a body of the player;
detect an event at the wagering game machine; and
transmit a second signal indicating the event to the wearable computer, the second signal being communicated from the wagering game machine to the wearable computer via the electrical conductivity of the body of the player.

2. The wagering game machine of claim 1 , wherein the event includes at least one of a cash-in event, a card swipe, a funds transfer, a game play event, or a game outcome.

3. The wagering game machine of claim 1 , wherein the first signal indicates an identifier or an account associated with the player.

4. The wagering game machine of claim 1 , wherein the first signal indicates a biometric characteristic of the player.

5. The wagering game machine of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to modify the casino wagering game based on the biometric characteristic.

6. The wagering game machine of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to lock the wagering game machine in response to not receiving the first signal.

7. A method of operating a wagering game machine, the method comprising:
receiving a first signal from a wearable computer worn by a player touching the wagering game machine, the first signal being communicated from the wearable computer to the wagering game machine via electrical conductivity of a body of the player;
detecting, by a controller of the wagering game machine, an event at the wagering game machine; and
transmitting a second signal indicating the event to the wearable computer, the second signal being communicated from the wagering game machine to the wearable computer via the electrical conductivity of the body of the player.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the event includes at least one of a cash-in event, a card swipe, a funds transfer, a game play event, or a game outcome.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first signal indicates an identifier or an account associated with the player.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first signal indicates a biometric characteristic of the player.

11. The method of claim 10 , further including modifying, by the controller, the casino wagering game based on the biometric characteristic.

12. The The method of claim 7 , further including locking, by the controller, the wagering game machine in response to not receiving the first signal.

13. A method of operating a wearable computer worn by a player touching a freestanding wagering game machine, the wagering game machine configured to present a casino wagering game, the wearable computer including a wireless communication interface, the method comprising:
receiving a first signal from a wagering game machine, the first signal being communicated from the wagering game machine to the wearable computer via electrical conductivity of a body of the player; and
in response to receiving the first signal, transmitting, via the wireless communication interface, a second signal to a mobile device carried by the player.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first signal indicates game-related data.

15. The method of claim 14 , further including storing the game-related data on the wearable computer prior to the transmitting.

16. The method of claim 13 , further including receiving, via the wireless communication interface, a third signal from the mobile device.

17. The method of claim 16 , further including in response to receiving the third signal, transmitting, via the body of the player, a fourth signal to the wagering game machine.

18. The method of claim 13 , further including in response to detecting a player input, transmitting, via the wireless communication interface, a third signal to the mobile device.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the player input includes an amount of funds to transfer to the wagering game machine or an identifier associated with the player.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the wireless communication interface includes a visible light communication (VLC) interface.

21. A method of operating a wearable computer worn by a player touching a freestanding wagering game machine, the wagering game machine configured to present a casino wagering game, the wearable computer including a wireless communication interface, the method comprising:
receiving, via the wireless communication interface, a first signal from a mobile device carried by the player; and
in response to receiving the first signal, transmitting a second signal to the wagering game machine, the second signal being communicated from the wearable computer to the wagering game machine via electrical conductivity of a body of the player.

22. The method of claim 21 , further including in response to detecting a player input, transmitting, via the wireless communication interface, a third signal to the mobile device.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the player input includes an amount of funds to transfer to the wagering game machine or an identifier associated with the player.

24. The method of claim 21 , wherein the wireless communication interface includes a visible light communication (VLC) interface.

Assignees

• Bally Gaming Inc
• Sg Gaming Inc

Inventors

• Bytnar Michael R
• DICILLO Michael Vincent
• Gustafson Patrick M
• Hornik Jeremy Michael
• Oswald Gary John
• ROBBINS Richard Barry
• Shin Nickey C
• Smith Jesse M
• SUNBLADE Simon Edward
• Vann Jamie W
• Velu Muthu
• Ward Matthew J
• Zoloto Steven J
• Buchholz Dale Robert
• Gagner Mark B
• SYLLA Craig Joe

Classifications

• G07F17/3209

  Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen · CPC title

• G07F17/3286

  Type of games · CPC title

• G07F17/3272

  Games involving multiple players · CPC title

• G07F17/3218 Primary

  wherein at least part of the system is portable · CPC title

• G07F17/3237

  about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players · CPC title