Mobile Gaming Location Verification Using Confidence Regions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lottery systems face challenges in verifying the location and age of players in mobile gaming, particularly in ensuring compliance with jurisdictional restrictions and revenue distribution in multi-jurisdictional games, as traditional methods rely on physical presence and paper tickets, which are not feasible with mobile devices.
Innovation Solution
A method using GPS, NFC, RFID, or BLE to determine the location of a mobile device, creating a region of confidence, and verifying player age through biometric and identification methods, ensuring that mobile gaming is conducted within permitted jurisdictions and adhering to age restrictions, with secure transaction keys managing game play eligibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional paper ticket lottery systems are used, then age verification and jurisdictional compliance are ensured through physical presence, but mobile gaming capability and convenience are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical paper tickets and in-person verification with an electronic system using mobile devices. GPS technology substitutes for physical presence verification, while biometric authentication (fingerprint, facial recognition) replaces manual age verification by clerks. This substitution enables mobile gaming convenience while maintaining verification reliability through automated electronic checks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces several intermediary components: GPS satellites and ground stations act as intermediaries to determine player location; biometric sensors and algorithms serve as intermediaries to verify player identity and age; and a regulatory compliance system acts as an intermediary to enforce jurisdictional restrictions. These intermediaries enable reliable verification in the mobile environment without requiring physical presence.
2Reliability
If mobile device location determination is implemented, then jurisdictional compliance is verified, but measurement precision and reliability of location data vary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial verification by checking whether the player's location falls within permitted jurisdictions rather than requiring absolute precision. The system determines compliance by comparing GPS coordinates against jurisdictional boundaries, accepting location data even when precision varies, as long as the player is clearly within or outside the permitted area. This approach ensures jurisdictional compliance verification without demanding maximum measurement precision.
3Reliability
If biometric authentication is used for age verification, then player identity is confirmed, but system complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service authentication where the mobile device itself performs biometric verification using its built-in sensors (fingerprint scanner, facial recognition camera). The device captures biometric data, processes it through onboard algorithms, and confirms player identity without requiring external verification equipment. This self-service approach increases reliability of identity confirmation while managing system complexity by utilizing existing mobile device capabilities.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables secure, compliant, and jurisdictionally accurate mobile gaming by verifying player location and age, allowing for real-time participation in various games, including lotteries and sports betting, while ensuring revenue distribution across participating jurisdictions.
Implementation Method 1
determining a location of a mobile device from one or more of Global Positioning System (GPS)
Implementation Method 2
determining a location of a mobile device from one or more of Global Positioning System (GPS), Near Field Communication (NFC)
Implementation Method 3
determining a location of a mobile device from one or more of Global Positioning System (GPS), Near Field Communication (NFC), Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID)
Data Source
AI summary
A method for mobile game play includes determining a location of a mobile device from one or more of GPS, NFC, RFID, or Bluetooth. An accuracy value of the location of the mobile device is determined. A region of confidence within which the mobile device is known to be within is determined based on the determined accuracy value. The region of confidence is substantially circular with a center at the determined location and a radius that is proportional in length to the determined accuracy value. An extent to which the region of confidence is within one or more pertinent jurisdictions is determined. Mobile game play is permitted when it is determined that the region of confidence is entirely within the one or more pertinent jurisdictions.