Granted Patent B2

US 8,926,422 · App. 13/788,971 · Granted Jan 6, 2015

Abstract

Claims (70)

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a wagering game server, a request from a mobile device to play a wagering game via a selected wagering game machine among a plurality of wagering game machines on a wagering game network;

verifying that the mobile device is within a predefined distance of the selected wagering game machine;

associating the mobile device with the selected wagering game machine, wherein the associating allows receipt of input for the wagering game from the mobile device;

receiving, via the wagering game network, commands resulting from inputs accepted by the mobile device; and

determining a result of the wagering game.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request further comprises:

receiving, at the wagering game server, a unique identifier associated with the selected wagering game machine.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the verifying that the mobile device is within a predefined distance of the selected wagering game machine further comprises:

transmitting, from the selected wagering game machine, a signal to the mobile device, wherein the signal indicates that the mobile device must communicate with the wagering game server; and

receiving, at the wagering game server, a communication from the mobile device in response to the signal from the selected wagering game machine.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the verifying that the mobile device is within a predefined distance of the selected wagering game machine further comprises:

outputting a first sound from a first speaker of the selected wagering game machine and a second sound from a second speaker of the wagering game machine, wherein the first sound and the second sound intersect to form a third sound; and

receiving, from the mobile device, an indication of the third sound at the wagering game server.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the verifying that the mobile device is within a predefined distance of the selected wagering game machine further comprises:

determining a geographic position of the mobile device;

determining a geographic position of the selected wagering game machine; and

comparing the geographic position of the mobile device and the geographic position of the selected wagering game machine.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the commands include one or more of an indication to initiate a reel spin, an indication of a wager, a selection of a game element, and a selection of a wagering game.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the command is indicated by a physical movement of the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

connecting to the mobile device via the wagering game network.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the associating precludes the selected wagering game machine from presenting wagering games via other mobile devices.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the verifying that the mobile device is within a predefined distance of the wagering game machine further comprises:

transmitting a signal to the mobile device, wherein the signal indicates that the mobile device must communicate with the wagering game machine; and

receiving a communication from the mobile device in response to the signal.

11. A method comprising:

presenting, at a wagering game machine, a unique identifier to a mobile device;

receiving an indication to associate with the mobile device;

verifying that the mobile device is within a predefined distance to the wagering game machine;

requesting, from a wagering game server, association with the mobile device, wherein the association allows receipt of input for the wagering game from the mobile device;

transmitting content for a wagering game; and

receiving commands for the wagering game, wherein the commands originate at the mobile device.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the content for the wagering game is transmitted to the mobile device.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the content for the wagering game is transmitted to a wagering game server for delivery to the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the association precludes the wagering game machine from presenting wagering games via other mobile devices.

15. A method comprising:

connecting to a wagering game network;

capturing, on a mobile device, a unique identifier of a wagering game machine;

transmitting, to a wagering game server via the wagering game network, the unique identifier;

verifying that the mobile device is within a predefined distance to the wagering game machine;

requesting association with the wagering game machine, wherein the association allows receipt of input for the wagering game from the mobile device;

receiving content for a wagering game;

presenting, on the mobile device, the content for the wagering game; and

transmitting commands for the wagering game.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the content for the wagering game is received from the wagering game server.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the content for the wagering game is received from the wagering game machine.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the commands for the wagering game are transmitted to the wagering game server.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the commands are transmitted to the wagering game machine.

20. An apparatus comprising:

means for presenting, at a wagering game machine, a unique identifier to a mobile device;

means for receiving an indication to associate with the mobile device;

means for verifying that the mobile device is within a predefined distance to the wagering game machine;

means for requesting, from a wagering game server, association with the mobile device, wherein the association with the mobile device allows receipt of input for the wagering game from the mobile device;

means for transmitting content for a wagering game; and

means for receiving commands for the wagering game, wherein the commands originate at the mobile device.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the content for the wagering game is transmitted to the mobile device.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the content for the wagering game is transmitted to a wagering game server for delivery to the mobile device.

23. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

a computer readable storage medium having computer usable program code executable on the at least one processor, the computer usable program code including;

code to present, at the apparatus, a unique identifier to a mobile device;

code to receive an indication to associate with the mobile device;

code to verify that the mobile device is within a predefined distance to the apparatus;

code to request, from a wagering game server, association with the mobile device, wherein the association allows receipt of input for the wagering game from the mobile device;

code to transmit content for a wagering game; and

code to receive commands for the wagering game, wherein the commands originate at the mobile device.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the content for the wagering game is presented on the mobile device.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the controller is further configured to, via the processor:

transmit the content for the wagering game to a wagering game server for delivery to the mobile device.

Assignments (11)