Wide Area Bonusing Network for Cross-Venue Player Data Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bonusing systems in gaming establishments are limited to specific venues and require upgrades to existing player tracking or accounting systems, making it difficult to implement wide area bonusing and loyalty programs across multiple locations, and there is a lack of sharing of player tracking information between establishments.
Innovation Solution
A wide area bonusing system that uses a network device to communicate with multiple site controllers and gaming machines, allowing for the collection and analysis of player data across different gaming establishments, enabling the provision of bonuses and loyalty programs independently of the casino's systems, using a secondary network that is separate from the casino's accounting or player tracking network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If conventional bonusing systems are implemented within specific gaming establishments, then player tracking and bonus distribution can be managed locally, but the system cannot provide wide area coverage across multiple locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third-party bonus network as an intermediary between gaming establishments and players. This independent network collects player data from multiple establishments and distributes bonuses centrally, enabling wide area coverage without requiring each casino to integrate complex tracking systems. The bonus network acts as a mediator that simplifies the architecture by centralizing functions that would otherwise require distributed integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The bonus network is designed to serve multiple gaming establishments simultaneously, providing a universal platform for wide area bonusing. This multi-functional system can operate across different venues and establishments, allowing the same infrastructure to support multiple clients without requiring establishment-specific customization, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If player tracking systems are upgraded to enable wide area bonusing, then cross-establishment data sharing becomes possible, but existing systems require costly and complex upgrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the player tracking and bonus distribution functions from the gaming establishments' existing systems and places them in a separate, dedicated bonus network. This extraction allows existing casino systems to remain unchanged while still enabling cross-establishment data sharing through the independent network, avoiding costly upgrades to legacy systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The bonus network serves as an intermediary layer between player tracking systems and bonus distribution. Rather than requiring upgrades to existing tracking systems, the patent uses this intermediate network to collect data from various establishments and manage bonuses independently, thereby enabling data sharing without mandating expensive system replacements.
3Loss of information
If gaming establishments maintain independent player tracking systems, then data privacy and security are preserved, but sharing of player tracking information between establishments is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The bonus network acts as a secure intermediary that receives player data from various establishments and maintains it in a centralized database. This intermediate layer enables information sharing between establishments while preserving data privacy through controlled access mechanisms, allowing the system to balance information sharing with security requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the data collection and storage functions into a centralized bonus network that serves multiple establishments. By combining these functions in a single secure platform, the system enables cross-establishment data sharing while maintaining unified security protocols and access controls, thereby improving both information availability and data protection.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are methods, apparatus, and systems, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for providing wide area bonusing over a gaming network from a gaming machine provider. Player identification information associated with a player is received. Gaming machine data is also retrieved. The gaming machine data is associated with the player identification information, and includes information particular to one or more gaming machines played by the player. One or more criteria are applied to the retrieved gaming machine data. A player bonus is issued according to the application of the one or more criteria to the retrieved gaming machine data. The gaming machine data can identify a brand of gaming machines played by the player. The gaming machine data can also include data selected from the group consisting of total number of machines played, gaming machine play history, games played, number of plays per machine, number of plays per game, amounts wagered per machine, amounts wagered per game, and gaming machine location. The gaming machine data can be stored on a portable device carried by the player.