Proximity based game customization
View Patent ↗Potential player proximity to a gaming machine is sensed, and used to customize the gaming machine. The potential player position may be sensed in different manners including via an ID card carried by the potential player with triangulation sensors, a cell phone, or via biometrics. The identity of the player is also associated with the ID card, and is used to access a database containing information about the potential player or type of player. Based on that stored information, the proximate gaming machine may be customized with a game or various attract modes that are more likely to attract the potential player. In further embodiments, information known to be desired by the potential player, such as sporting results may also be displayed to attract the potential player. In still further embodiments, various profiling techniques may be utilized to identify desired customizations of proximately located gaming machines.
1. A method of customizing a gaming device, the method comprising:
identifying a potential player;
predicting a future location of the potential player by extrapolating the future location of the potential player based on past known locations of the potential player and times at the known locations;
identifying an idle gaming device proximate to the predicted future location of the potential player;
determining interests of the potential player based on interests stored in a player database; and
customizing the idle gaming device as a function of the potential player interests.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the idle gaming device is customized to begin an attract mode when the potential player is proximate to the idle gaming device.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the idle gaming device is customized to offer a game preferred by the potential player.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the potential player is identified by the use of a RF tag carried by the potential player.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the RF tag is associated with the potential player and used as an index into a player database of player preferences to determine preferences of the potential player.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the potential player is identified by the use of biometrics.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the potential player is identified by triangulating on a cell phone carried by the potential player.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein preferences of the potential player are identified by profiling the potential player.
9. The method of claim 3 wherein the game preferred by the potential player has payouts that are also preferred by the potential player.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the idle gaming device is customized with an attract mode based on a the sporting team of interest to the potential player, wherein the attract mode includes a display of sporting event scores of the sporting team.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the idle gaming device is customized with commercials, themes, or playing incentives.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the idle gaming device is customized with a language based on preferences stored in the player database for the potential player.
13. A computer-implemented method of customizing a gaming device to attract an unidentified player, the method comprising:
storing, in one or more memory devices, a plurality of profiles of different types of players, wherein the different types of players are associated with one or more observable characteristics and the profiles of the plurality are associated with one or more gaming preferences;
detecting, via at least one of one or more image sensors, one or more observable characteristics of an unidentified player positioned proximate the gaming device;
determining, via at least one of the one or more processors, one or more likely gaming preferences of the unidentified player by profiling the unidentified player based on the plurality of profiles and the detected one or more observable characteristics; and
customizing, via at least one of the one or more processors, the gaming device in accordance with at least one of the one or more likely gaming preferences.
14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein the detected one or more observable characteristics includes at least one of facial features, height, weight, clothing, and accessories.
15. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein detecting one or more observable characteristics includes analyzing, via facial recognition software, facial features of the unidentified player.
16. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 wherein the gaming device is customized to offer a game that is likely preferred by the unidentified player, based on the identified one or more observable characteristics.
17. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein the gaming device is customized to offer wagering game payouts that are likely preferred by the unidentified player, based on the identified one or more observable characteristics.
18. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein the gaming device is customized to operate an attract mode that is selected based on likely gaming preferences of the unidentified player.
19. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein the gaming device is customized to provide commercials, themes, or playing incentives that are selected based on likely gaming preferences of the unidentified player.
20. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein the gaming device is customized to use a language that is selected based on likely preferences of the unidentified player.
21. A computer-implemented method of customizing an idle gaming device to attract an unidentified player, the method comprising:
storing, in one or more memory devices, a plurality of profiles of different types of players, wherein the different types of players are associated with one or more observable characteristics, and the profiles of the plurality are associated with one or more gaming preferences;
detecting, via at least one of one or more image sensors, one or more observable characteristics of an unidentified player at a location in a gaming establishment;
selecting, via at least one of one or more processors, an idle gaming device proximate the location of the unidentified player;
determining, via at least one of the one or more processors, one or more likely gaming preferences of the unidentified player by profiling the unidentified player based on the plurality of profiles and the detected one or more observable characteristics; and
customizing, via at least one of the one or more processors, the idle gaming device in accordance with at least one of the one or more likely gaming preferences.
22. The computer-implemented method of claim 21 , wherein the detected one or more observable characteristics includes at least one of facial features, height, weight, clothing, and accessories.
23. The computer-implemented method of claim 21 , wherein detecting one or more observable characteristics includes analyzing, via facial recognition software, facial features of the unidentified player.
24. The computer-implemented method of claim 21 , wherein the idle gaming device is customized to offer a game that is likely preferred by the unidentified player based on the identified one or more observable characteristics.
25. A gaming system configured to automatically customize a gaming device to attract an unidentified player, the gaming system comprising:
one or more image sensors;
one or more processors; and
at least one of one or more memory devices storing a plurality of profiles of different types of players, wherein the different types of players are associated with one or more observable characteristics, and the profiles of the plurality are associated with one or more gaming preferences;
at least one of the one or more memory devices storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the gaining system to:
detect, via at least one of the one or more image sensors, one or more observable characteristics of an unidentified player proximate the gaining device;
determining, via at least one of the one or more processors, one or more likely gaming preferences of the unidentified player by profiling the unidentified player based on the plurality of profiles and the detected one or more observable characteristics; and
customizing, via at least one of the one or more processors, the gaming device in accordance with at least one of the one or more likely gaming preferences.
26. The gaming system of claim 25 , wherein the gaming system is communicably connected to the gaming device via a communications network.
27. The gaming system of claim 26 , wherein the detected one or more observable characteristics include at least one of facial features, height, weight, clothing, and accessories.
28. The gaming system of claim 25 , wherein detecting one or more observable characteristics includes analyzing, via facial recognition software, facial features of the unidentified player.
29. A computer-readable, non-transitory medium including executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a gaming system to perform a method comprising:
accessing, via one or more memory devices, a plurality of profiles of different types of players, wherein the different types of players are associated with one or more observable characteristics, and the profiles of the plurality are associated with one or more gaming preferences;
detecting, via at least one of one or more image sensors, one or more observable characteristics of an unidentified player at a location in a gaming establishment;
selecting, via at least one of one or more processors, an idle gaming device proximate the location of the unidentified player;
determining, via at least one of the one or more processors, one or more likely gaming preferences of the unidentified player by profiling the unidentified player based on the plurality of profiles and the detected one or more observable characteristics; and
customizing, via at least one of the one or more processors, the idle gaming device in accordance with at least one of the one or more likely gaming preferences.
30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29 , wherein the plurality of profiles is stored in one or more memory devices that are accessed via a communications network.