Gaming system supporting data distribution to gaming devices
In one aspect, gaming machines and systems are configured to distribute of viral events, such as viral gaming events, amongst devices. The devices can, for example, be gaming machines and/or mobile devices. According to one embodiment, once a viral event is triggered, it is presented at one or more first devices at a first time. The viral event spreads to other devices, such as one or more second devices where it can be presented at a later time. The viral event may continue to spread to numerous other devices. In another aspect, an apparatus, method, and system to acquire and display casino data on a portable electronic device may include a portable electronic device operative with a real-time location based data application to transmit the location of the portable electronic device and acquire, prioritize, store and display real-time casino data.
1. A method of a portable electronic device, the method comprising:
receiving, via the portable electronic device, criterion for an entertainment query, wherein the criterion includes a maximum distance from a location of the portable electronic device within a gaming establishment, wherein the location of the portable electronic device is ascertained based on communication of the portable electronic device with at least one of an access point or an RF beacon positioned at a location within a gaming establishment;
receiving, with the portable electronic device, non-gaming entertainment data selected per the criterion of the entertainment query, wherein the non-gaming entertainment data includes data for one or more non-gaming entertainment services available at the gaming establishment that are within the maximum distance from the location of the portable electronic device as specified by the entertainment query; and
presenting at least a portion of the data received for the one or more non-gaming entertainment services on a display of the portable electronic device, wherein the portion of the data includes distances for the one or more non-gaming entertainment services from the location of the portable electronic device.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the presenting comprises displaying a map of the gaming establishment, the location of the portable electronic device within the gaming establishment, and locations of the one or more non-gaming entertainment services within the gaming establishment.
3. The method of claim 2 , comprising periodically updating the map as the location of the portable electronic device changes.
4. The method of claim 2 , comprising displaying an indicia on the map of the gaming establishment to indicate a location of each non-gaming entertainment service associated with the received non-gaming entertainment data.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-gaming entertainment data includes at least amenities available at the gaming establishment.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-gaming entertainment data includes at least attractions available at the gaming establishment.
7. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more devices, cause the one or more devices to:
determine a location of a portable electronic device within a gaming establishment based on communication between portable electronic device and at least one of an access point or an RF beacon positioned at a location within the gaming establishment;
receive, via the portable electronic device, criterion for an entertainment query, wherein the criterion includes a maximum distance from the location of the portable electronic device within the gaming establishment;
select non-gaming entertainment data that satisfies the criterion for the entertainment query; and
transmit the selected non-gaming entertainment data to the portable electronic device, wherein the non-gaming entertainment data includes data for one or more non-gaming entertainment services available at the gaming establishment that are within the maximum distance from the location of the portable electronic device as specified by the entertainment query.
8. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices of claim 7 , wherein execution of the instructions causes, the one or more devices to select the non-gaming entertainment data such that the non-gaming entertainment data includes at least amenities available at the gaming establishment that satisfy the criterion of the entertainment query.
9. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices of claim 7 , wherein execution of the instructions causes the one or more devices to select the non-gaming entertainment data such that the non-gaming entertainment data includes at least attractions available at the gaming establishment that satisfy the criterion of the entertainment query.
10. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices of claim 7 , wherein the transmitted non-gaming entertainment data causes the portable electronic device to display a map of the gaming establishment, the location of the portable device within the gaming establishment, and locations of the one or more non-gaming entertainment services within the gaming establishment.
11. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices of claim 10 , wherein the transmitted non-gaming entertainment data causes the portable electronic device to periodically update the map as the location of the portable electronic device changes.
12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices of claim 10 , wherein the transmitted non-gaming entertainment data causes the portable electronic device to display an indicia on the map of the gaming establishment to indicate a location of each non-gaming entertainment service associated with the transmitted non-gaming entertainment data.
13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices of claim 7 , wherein:
capabilities of the portable electronic device include one or more of screen display size, screen resolution, computing capability, memory available, operating system type, and software installed on the portable electronic device; and
execution of the instructions cause the one or more devices to prepare the non-gaming data based on the capabilities of the portable electronic device prior to transmitting to the portable electronic device.
14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage devices of claim 7 , wherein execution of the instructions cause the one or more devices to verify authenticity of a software application of the portable electronic device prior to transmitting the non-gaming entertainment data to the portable electronic device.
15. A portable electronic device, comprising:
a display;
one or more input devices;
a transceiver configured to communicate; and
a processor configured to:
receive, via the one or more input devices, criterion for an entertainment query, wherein the criterion includes a maximum distance from a location of the portable electronic device within a gaming establishment, wherein the location of the portable electronic device is ascertained based on communication of the transceiver with at least one of an access point or an RF beacon positioned at a location within the gaming establishment;
receive, via the transceiver, non-gaming entertainment data selected per the criterion of the entertainment query, wherein the non-gaming entertainment data includes data for one or more non-gaming entertainment services available at the gaming establishment that are within the maximum distance from the location of the portable electronic device as specified by the entertainment query; and
present at least a portion of the data received for the one or more non-gaming entertainment services on the display, wherein the portion of the data includes distances for the one or more non-gaming entertainment services from the location of the portable electronic device.
16. The portable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the processor is configured to present, on the display, a map of the gaming establishment, the location of the portable device within the gaming establishment, and locations of the one or more non-gaming entertainment services within the gaming establishment.
17. The portable electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to periodically update the map as the location of the portable electronic device changes.
18. The portable electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to display an indicia on the map of the gaming establishment to indicate a location of each non-gaming entertainment service associated with the received non-gaming entertainment data.
19. The portable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the non-gaming entertainment data includes at least amenities available at the gaming establishment.
20. The portable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the non-gaming entertainment data includes at least attractions available at the gaming establishment.