Bluetooth Beacon Game Map for Retail Foot Traffic
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Solution Overview
Problem
The lottery industry faces challenges in maintaining player foot traffic at retail establishments as electronic and online ticket sales increase, necessitating innovative ways to integrate mobile gaming while preserving the mutually beneficial relationship between retailers and players.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) beacons or other communication technologies to enable game-related activities at authorized locations, where players' mobile devices receive unique ID signals from transmitters, allowing a central game server to identify players and locations, and provide electronic maps with game-related functions, encouraging visits and enhancing gameplay experiences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If electronic and online ticket sales are expanded, then player accessibility and convenience are improved, but foot traffic to retail establishments decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines electronic gaming features with physical retail locations by integrating mobile devices with in-store terminals and beacons. Players can access gaming functions both online and offline, merging the convenience of electronic gaming with the social and experiential aspects of visiting retail establishments, thereby maintaining foot traffic while expanding accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces mobile devices as intermediaries between players and the gaming system. These devices facilitate communication between players and retail locations through beacons and wireless communications, enabling players to receive notifications, access gaming functions, and engage with the system without requiring direct in-person interaction, thus maintaining accessibility while preserving retail visitation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If mobile electronic gaming is integrated, then player engagement and entertainment value are improved, but the traditional retailer-player relationship is weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the retail establishment multi-functional by integrating it with electronic gaming capabilities, beacons, and mobile device communications. The retail location serves both traditional ticket sales and enhanced mobile gaming functions, reinforcing the retailer's role as a central hub for gaming activities and strengthening the retailer-player relationship through expanded service offerings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through mobile device communications with beacons, allowing the system to detect player presence, send personalized notifications, and provide real-time updates. This continuous feedback loop enhances player engagement by providing tailored experiences and incentives, while simultaneously reinforcing the retailer's active role in player acquisition and retention.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple communication-enabled locations are deployed, then player accessibility and gaming options are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the gaming system into modular components distributed across multiple retail locations, each equipped with its own beacons and communication capabilities. This segmentation allows independent deployment and operation at each location while maintaining overall system functionality, reducing the complexity burden on any single location and enabling scalable expansion.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are provided for enabling performance by players of game-related activities at authorized physical locations, such as retail establishments. A plurality of physical locations are designated as authorized communication-enabled locations and are configured with a transmitter device that broadcasts a unique ID signal or a receiver that receives the unique ID signal. The identity and location of the communication-enabled locations are published to the players via an electronic map on a website accessible by the players. The electronic map also informs the players of game-related functions that are able to be performed by the players at the respective communication-enabled locations.