Granted Patent B2

US 8,690,669 · App. 13/926,849 · Granted Apr 8, 2014

Abstract

Claims (55)

1. A method comprising:

detecting player activities in a wagering game system;

awarding a first value type to a player account for participation in activities in the wagering game system;

receiving a request, via the wagering game system, to exchange the first value type for a second value type, wherein the first value type and the second value type are not currencies issued by a world government;

determining that the first value type is exchangeable for the second value type;

determining a conversion rate, wherein the conversion rate indicates the first value type in terms of the second value type; and

exchanging the first value type for the second value type based on the conversion rate.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first value type has subtypes, and wherein each subtype of the first value type has a value in terms of other subtypes of the first value type.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first value type has a plurality of subtypes, wherein a first subtype is operable to activate a first set of wagering game features, and wherein a second subtype is operable to activate a second set of wagering game features.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second value type is redeemable for wagering game features, and wherein the first value type is redeemable for one or more of a third value type, prizes, awards, and monetary value.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second type is earned through bonus wagering game gameplay, exchange with value of the first value type, achieving predetermined outcomes in a wagering game, frequent wagering game gameplay in a casino, and random giveaways.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the player activities in the wagering game system include wagering game gameplay, wagering game gameplay for a duration, participation in online activities, purchase with monetary value, playing a wagering game at a casino, playing a wagering game online, participating in a community group, logging into the player account at a casino, and logging into the player account online.

7. A method comprising:

determining, in a wagering game system, awards associated with a player account, wherein the awards are of a plurality of award types including a first type and a second type, and wherein the awards are awarded for participation in activities in the wagering game system;

determining a relative value of the first type to the second type;

receiving a request to exchange a quantity of the awards of the first type for awards of the second type;

determining, based on the relative value of the first type to the second type, a quantity of the awards of the second type to be exchanged for the quantity of awards of the first type; and

exchanging, in the player account, the quantity of awards of the second type for the quantity of awards of the first type.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the awards of the first type contain a plurality of classifications, and wherein each of the plurality of classifications has a different value.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein awards of the first type of a second classification can be redeemed for awards of the first type of a first classification.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the awards of the first type are awarded for wagering gameplay, duration of wagering gameplay, participation in online activities, and purchase with monetary value.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the awards of the second type are awarded for bonus wagering gameplay, exchange with value of the first value type, achieving predetermined outcomes in a wagering game, frequent wagering gameplay in a casino, and random giveaways.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the activities in the wagering game system include wagering game gameplay, wagering game gameplay for a duration, participation in online activities, purchase with monetary value, playing a wagering game at a casino, playing a wagering game online, participating in a community group, logging into the player account at a casino, and logging into the player account online.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the awards of the second type are exchangeable for awards of a third type.

14. A method comprising:

awarding, to a player account, a first award type for participation in wagering game activities;

awarding, to the player account, a second award type for achieving a winning outcome in a wagering game;

receiving a request to exchange the first award type for the second award type;

determining a value for the second award type in terms of the first award type; and

exchanging, in the player account, the first award type for the second award type based on the value of the second award type in terms of the first award type.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the wagering game activities include wagering game gameplay, wagering game gameplay for a duration, participation in online activities, purchase with monetary value, playing a wagering game at a casino, playing a wagering game online, participating in a community group, logging into the player account at a casino, and logging into the player account online.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the wagering game is a bonus game.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first award type includes a plurality of gradations, and wherein each of the plurality of gradations has a differing value.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the second award type is exchangeable for a third award type.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the second award type is redeemable for wagering game features, and wherein the first award type is redeemable for one or more of a third award type, prizes, awards, and monetary value.

20. One or more computer readable storage media, having instructions stored therein, which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations that comprise:

detecting player activities in a wagering game system;

awarding a first value type to a player account for participation in activities in the wagering game system;

receiving a request, via the wagering game system, to exchange the first value type for a second value type;

determining that the first value type is exchangeable for the second value type;

determining a conversion rate, wherein the conversion rate indicates the first value type in terms of the second value type; and

exchanging the first value type for the second value type based on the conversion rate.

21. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 20 , wherein the player activities in the wagering game system include wagering game gameplay, wagering game gameplay for a duration, participation in online activities, purchase with monetary value, playing a wagering game at a casino, playing a wagering game online, participating in a community group, logging into the player account at a casino, and logging into the player account online.

22. The one or more computer readable storage media of claim 20 , wherein the second value type is redeemable for wagering game features, and wherein the first value type is redeemable for one or more of a third value type, prizes, awards, and monetary value.

23. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor and:

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

code to:

determine, in a wagering game system, awards associated with a player account, wherein the awards are of a plurality of award types including a first type and a second type, and wherein the awards are awarded for participation in activities in the wagering game system;

determine a relative value of the first type to the second type;

receive a request to exchange a quantity of awards of the first type for awards of the second type;

determine, based on the relative value of the first type to the second type, a quantity of the awards of the second type to be exchanged for the quantity of awards of the first type; and

exchange, in the player account, the quantity of awards of the second type for the quantity of awards of the first type.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the awards of the first type are awarded for wagering gameplay, duration of wagering gameplay, participation in online activities, and purchase with monetary value.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the awards of the second type are awarded for bonus wagering gameplay, exchange with value of the first value type, achieving predetermined outcomes in a wagering game, frequent wagering gameplay in a casino, and random giveaways.

Assignments (13)