IP Library Granted Patent US 12,412,449
Granted Patent B2
US 12,412,449 · App. 18/476,554 · Granted Sep 9, 2025

Dispatching casino agents to an electronic gaming machine

Inventors: John F. Acres (Las Vegas, NV); Kevin Parker (Las Vegas, NV); Andrea McCurry (Las Vegas, NV)
Assignee: Acres Technology
G07F17/3234G07F17/3232
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,412,449
App. No.
18/476,554
Granted
Sep 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method for dispatching a person to an electronic gaming machine in response to a predefined event at the electronic gaming machine. A listing of casino agents who may be dispatched is stored on in a database. A communication on a network of gaming machines is received indicating that a casino agent should be dispatched to one of the electronic gaming machines. A signal is automatically sent to a wireless device carried by a person including data that identifies the one electronic gaming device.

Claims (43)

1. A method comprising:

receiving, from an electronic gaming device, one or more activity signals;

determining one or more player account identifiers associated with the electronic gaming device;

determining, based on the one or more activity signals, an agent response call signal; and

withholding, based on the one or more player account identifiers, the agent response call signal.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more activity signals are configured to indicate one or more of: a points jackpot, a deviation in a wagering pattern, a points bonus, a service button activation, a device malfunction, a bill jam, or an empty printer.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the one or more player account identifiers comprises receiving, from the electronic gaming device, the one or more player account identifiers.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more player account identifiers are determined by the electronic gaming device based on a near field communication from a user device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein withholding the agent response call signal comprises determining the one or more player account identifiers are associated with low gaming activity.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending, based on a predetermined amount of time passing, the agent response call signal.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a second activity signal;

determining a priority associated with the second activity signal; and

sending, based on the priority associated with the second activity signal, the agent response call signal.

8. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing processor executable instructions thereon, which, when executed by at least one processor cause the at least one processor to:

receive, from an electronic gaming device, one or more activity signals;

determine one or more player account identifiers associated with the electronic gaming device;

determine, based on the one or more activity signals, an agent response call signal; and

withhold, based on the one or more player account identifiers, the agent response call signal.

9. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein the one or more activity signals are configured to indicate one or more of: a points jackpot, a deviation in a wagering pattern, a points bonus, a service button activation, a device malfunction, a bill jam, or an empty printer.

10. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein the processor executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine the one or more player account identifiers, further cause the at least one processor to receive, from the electronic gaming device, the one or more player account identifiers.

11. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein the one or more player account identifiers are determined by the electronic gaming device based on a near field communication from a user device.

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein the processor executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to withhold the agent response call signal further cause the at least one processor to determine the one or more player account identifiers are associated with low gaming activity.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein the processor executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to send, based on a predetermined amount of time passing, the agent response call signal.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8 , wherein the processor executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

receive a second activity signal;

determine a priority associated with the second activity signal; and

send, based on the priority associated with the second activity signal, the agent response call signal.

15. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing processor executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:

receive, from an electronic gaming device, one or more activity signals;

determine one or more player account identifiers associated with the electronic gaming device;

determine, based on the one or more activity signals, an agent response call signal; and

withhold, based on the one or more player account identifiers, the agent response call signal.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the apparatus comprises one or more of: a virtual slot machine, a virtual card machine, or a virtual table game.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the one or more activity signals are configured to indicate one or more of: a points jackpot, a deviation in a wagering pattern, a points bonus, a service button activation, a device malfunction, a bill jam, or an empty printer.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the processor executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to receive, from the electronic gaming device, the one or more player account identifiers.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the processor executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to withhold the agent response call signal further cause the one or more processors to determine the one or more player account identifiers are associated with low gaming activity.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the processor executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

receive a second activity signal;

determine a priority associated with the second activity signal; and

send, based on the priority associated with the second activity signal, the agent response call signal.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 28, 2023
From: ACRES, JOHN F.; PARKER, KEVIN; MCCURRY, ANDREA
To: PATENT INVESTMENT & LICENSING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 065061/0297 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 28, 2023
From: PATENT INVESTMENT & LICENSING COMPANY
To: ACRES TECHNOLOGY
Reel/Frame 065061/0313 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation 17512102 · Oct 27, 2021
Continuation 16750325 · Jan 23, 2020
Continuation 15628855 · Jun 21, 2017
Division 15207061 · Jul 11, 2016
Continuation 13917506 · Jun 13, 2013
Related Publication 20240135775A1 · Apr 25, 2024
Related Publication 20240233484A9 · Jul 11, 2024
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