Patent US1393667A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6206782B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System and method for facilitating casino team play
Assignee: Zynga Inc
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Filing: 1998-09-14
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Granted: 2001-03-27
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Expires: 2018-09-14
Abstract
Abstract A method is disclosed for facilitating group play by a team of members associated with a casino slot club. The method includes the steps of identifying the team members, identifying a set of rules designated by the team for rewarding the team members when a payout is due to one of the team members, detecting a payout due to one of the team members, and rewarding the team members in accordance with the set of rules.
Inventors
- 👤 Jay S. Walker
- 👤 James A. Jorasch
- 👤 Magdalena Mik
- 👤 Jason Krantz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 02:28
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/32; G07F17/3244; G07F17/3225; G07F17/3232; G07F17/3237; G07F17/3239; G07F17/326; G07F17/3272; G07F17/3274; G07F17/3276
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 59
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of facilitating game play by members of a team, comprising the steps of: identifying the members of the team; identifying at least one predetermined rule for rewarding the members of the team when a payout is due to a game-playing team member, wherein identifying at least one predetermined rule includes identifying an activity multiplier; detecting a payout associated with a game-playing team member; and rewarding the members of the team in accordance with the at least one predetermined rule.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of facilitating game play by members of a team, comprising the steps of: identifying the members of the team; identifying at least one predetermined rule for rewarding the members of the team when a payout is due to a game-playing team member, wherein identifying at least one predetermined rule includes identifying an activity multiplier; detecting a payout associated with a game-playing team member; and rewarding the members of the team in accordance with the at least one predetermined rule.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of identifying at least one predetermined rule for rewarding members of the team when a payout is due to a game-playing team member includes identifying a minimum payout threshold for rewarding members of the team.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 2 , further comprising the step of evaluating whether the payout is greater than the minimum payout threshold.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 2 , further comprising the step of evaluating whether the payout is less than the minimum payout threshold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of identifying at least one predetermined rule for rewarding members of the team when a payout is due to a game-playing team member includes identifying eligibility requirements for rewarding members of the team.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 5 , further comprising the step of determining the eligibility of each member of the team based upon the at least one predetermined rule.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 6 , wherein the step of determining the eligibility of each member of the team based upon the at least one predetermined rule includes determining a predetermined minimum wager amount.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 6 , wherein the step of determining the eligibility of each member of the team based upon the at least one predetermined rule includes determining a predetermined minimum wager amount during a predetermined period of time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the activity multiplier is a unitary amount and team members receive a reward independent of an activity status of individual team members when the payout associated with the game-playing team member is detected.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1 , further including the step of determining a condition for effecting bonus multiplication.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 10 , wherein the step of determining a condition for effecting bonus multiplication includes determining whether a team member is active when the payout is detected.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 11 , wherein the step of determining whether a team member is active includes determining whether a team member is actively playing a gaming machine when the payout is detected.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of rewarding members of the team when a payout is due to a game-playing team member comprises distributing a portion of the payout to members of the team other than the game-playing team member in accordance with the at least one predetermined rule.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of rewarding members of the team when a payout is due to a game-playing team member comprises providing a monetary reward to members of the team other than the game-playing team member in accordance with the at least one predetermined rule.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of rewarding members of the team when a payout is due to a game-playing team member comprises providing non-monetary reward to members of the team other than the game-playing team member in accordance with the at least one predetermined rule.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of rewarding members of the team when a payout is due to a game-playing team member includes the step of directing a gaming device to dispense a monetary reward to a member of the team other than the game-playing team member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of rewarding members of the team when a payout is due to a game-playing team member includes the step of directing a gaming device to dispense a monetary reward to the game-playing team member.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of facilitating game play by members of a team, comprising the steps of: identifying a team member; identifying a team with which said team member is associated; identifying a rule set governing allocation of bonuses to the team when a payout is due to the team member, wherein identifying a rule set includes identifying an activity multiplier associated with the team; receiving a signal indicating that a payout is due to the team member; evaluating the rule set based in part on the payout to facilitate allocation of bonuses; and allocating bonuses to the team in accordance with the rule set.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of facilitating game play by members of a team, comprising the steps of: identifying a team member; identifying a team with which said team member is associated; identifying a rule set governing allocation of bonuses to the team when a payout is due to the team member, wherein identifying a rule set includes identifying an activity multiplier associated with the team; receiving a signal indicating that a payout is due to the team member; evaluating the rule set based in part on the payout to facilitate allocation of bonuses; and allocating bonuses to the team in accordance with the rule set.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 18 , wherein the step of identifying the rule set governing allocation of bonuses to the team includes identifying at least one rule based upon an amount of the payout.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 18 , wherein the step of identifying the rule set governing allocation of rewards to the team further includes identifying at least one rule based upon a condition of eligibility.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 20 , wherein the step of evaluating the rule set includes evaluating a condition of eligibility by determining whether a team member is active when the signal is received.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 21 , wherein the step of determining whether a team member is active when a payout is obtained includes determining whether the team member is playing a gaming machine when the signal is received.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 22 , wherein the activity multiplier associated with the team is a unitary value and bonuses are allocated to the team independent of whether individual team members'are active when a team member obtains a payout.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 22 , wherein the step of allocating bonuses to the team includes applying the activity multiplier to the bonuses in accordance with the rule set.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of facilitating game play by members of a team associated with a casino comprising the steps of: registering a team with a casino; registering the members of the team with the casino; and designating at least one rule for facilitating the distribution of bonuses amongst the members of the team when a particular member of the team receives a payout from a gaming device in the casino, including generating a team plan in a team plans database.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of facilitating game play by members of a team associated with a casino comprising the steps of: registering a team with a casino; registering the members of the team with the casino; and designating at least one rule for facilitating the distribution of bonuses amongst the members of the team when a particular member of the team receives a payout from a gaming device in the casino, including generating a team plan in a team plans database.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 25 , wherein the step of registering a team with a casino includes generating a team record in a teams database contained in a data storage device.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 25 , wherein the step of registering the members of the team with the casino includes generating a player record in a player database contained in a data storage device for each member of the team.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 25 , wherein the team plans database is contained in a data storage device.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 25 , wherein the step of generating a team plan includes the step of defining the team plan with a set of rules selected from the group comprising a threshold payout value, a bonus amount, at least one player eligibility requirement, and an activity multiplier.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
102 words
A system for facilitating game play by a team of members, comprising: a processor; a memory connected to the processor storing a program to control the operation of the processor; the processor operative with the program in the memory to: identify the members of the team; identify at least one predetermined rule for rewarding the members of the team when a payout is due to a game-playing team member; identify an activity multiplier designated by the team; detect a payout due to a game-playing team member; and reward the members of the team in accordance with the at least one predetermined rule.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
102 words
A system for facilitating game play by a team of members, comprising: a processor; a memory connected to the processor storing a program to control the operation of the processor; the processor operative with the program in the memory to: identify the members of the team; identify at least one predetermined rule for rewarding the members of the team when a payout is due to a game-playing team member; identify an activity multiplier designated by the team; detect a payout due to a game-playing team member; and reward the members of the team in accordance with the at least one predetermined rule.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 30 , wherein the processor is further operative with the program in the memory to identify a minimum payout threshold for rewarding members of the team.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 31 , wherein the processor is further operative with the program in the memory to evaluate whether the payout is greater than the minimum payout threshold.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 31 , wherein the processor is further operative with the program in the memory to evaluate whether the payout is greater than or equal to the minimum payout threshold.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 30 , wherein the processor is further operative with the program in the memory to identify eligibility requirements for rewarding members of the team.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system according to claim 34 , wherein the processor is further operative with the program in the memory to determine the eligibility of each member of the team based upon the at least one predetermined rule.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 35 , wherein the processor is further operative with the program in the memory to determine a predetermined minimum wager amount.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 35 , wherein the processor is further operative with the program in the memory to determine a predetermined minimum wager amount during a predetermined period of time.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system according to claim 30 , wherein the activity multiplier designated by the team is a unitary amount and team members receive a reward independent of an activity status of individual team members when the payout due to the game-playing team member is detected.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 30 , wherein the processor is further operative with the program in the memory to determine a condition for effecting bonus multiplication.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 39 , wherein the processor is further operative with the program in the memory to determine whether a team member is active when the payout is detected.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system according to claim 40 , wherein the processor is further operative with the program in the memory to determine whether a team member is actively playing a gaming machine when the payout is detected.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system according to claim 30 , wherein the processor is further operative with the program in the memory to distribute a portion of the payout to members of the team other than the game-playing team member in accordance with the least one predetermined rule.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system according to claim 30 , wherein the processor is further operative with the program in the memory to provide a monetary reward to members of the team other than the game-playing team member in accordance with the at least one predetermined rule.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system according to claim 30 , wherein the processor is further operative with the program in the memory to provide non-monetary reward to members of the team other than thed game-playing team member in accordance with the at least one predetermined rule.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system according to claim 30 , wherein the processor is further operative with the program in the memory to direct a gaming device to dispense a monetary reward to a member of the team other than the game-playing team member.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 30 , wherein the processor is further operative with the program in the memory to direct a gaming device to dispense a monetary reward to the game-playing team member.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
326 words
A system for facilitating game play by a team of members associated with a casino slot club comprising: a) a memory storage device containing, i) a player database including a player record for each member of the club, each player record having at least a player identifier and a team identifier indicating the team with which a player is associated, ii) a teams database including a team record for each team associated with the club, each team record having at least a player identifier identifying each member of the team, a team identifier and a team plan identifier, and iii) a team plan database including a team plan record for each team, each team plan record having at least the team plan identifier associated therewith and a rule set for facilitating the allocation of rewards to the members of the team when a payout is due to a particular team member; and b) a processor in communication with the memory storage device, said processor adapted and configured to, i) receive a first player identifier from a gaming machine, the first player identifier corresponding to a first team member, ii) receive a signal from said gaming machine indicating a payout is due to the first team member, iii) retrieve a first player record from the player database based upon the first player identifier, iv) determine a first team identifier from the first player record, v) retrieve a first team record from the team database based upon the first team identifier, vi) determine a first team plan identifier from the first team record, vii) retrieve a first team plan record from the team plan database based upon the first team plan identifier, viii) determine a first rule set from the first team plan record, ix) evaluate the first rule set based at least upon the payout, and xi) distribute a reward to each team member identified in the first team record in accordance with the first rule set.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
326 words
A system for facilitating game play by a team of members associated with a casino slot club comprising: a) a memory storage device containing, i) a player database including a player record for each member of the club, each player record having at least a player identifier and a team identifier indicating the team with which a player is associated, ii) a teams database including a team record for each team associated with the club, each team record having at least a player identifier identifying each member of the team, a team identifier and a team plan identifier, and iii) a team plan database including a team plan record for each team, each team plan record having at least the team plan identifier associated therewith and a rule set for facilitating the allocation of rewards to the members of the team when a payout is due to a particular team member; and b) a processor in communication with the memory storage device, said processor adapted and configured to, i) receive a first player identifier from a gaming machine, the first player identifier corresponding to a first team member, ii) receive a signal from said gaming machine indicating a payout is due to the first team member, iii) retrieve a first player record from the player database based upon the first player identifier, iv) determine a first team identifier from the first player record, v) retrieve a first team record from the team database based upon the first team identifier, vi) determine a first team plan identifier from the first team record, vii) retrieve a first team plan record from the team plan database based upon the first team plan identifier, viii) determine a first rule set from the first team plan record, ix) evaluate the first rule set based at least upon the payout, and xi) distribute a reward to each team member identified in the first team record in accordance with the first rule set.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as recited in claim 47 , wherein the processor is adapted and configured to evaluate the first rule set based at least upon an amount of the payout and data stored in the first team record.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as recited in claim 48 , wherein the data stored in the first team record includes data relating to player eligibility status and player activity status.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as recited in claim 49 , wherein the processor is adapted and configured to update player eligibility status and player activity status on a periodic basis.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as recited in claim 50 , wherein the processor is adapted and configured to determine an activity multiplier from the first team plan record based upon the first team plan identifier.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as recited in claim 51 , wherein the processor is adapted and configured to determine a reward amount based at least upon the activity multiplication factor.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
99 words
A computer-readable storage medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method of facilitating game play by a team of members, the processing instructions for directing a computer to: identify the members of the team; identify at least one predetermined rule for rewarding the members of the team when a payout is due to a game-playing team member, wherein identifying at least one predetermined rule includes identifying an activity multiplier associated with the team; detect a payout due to a game-playing team member; and reward the members of the team in accordance with the at least one predetermined rule.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
99 words
A computer-readable storage medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method of facilitating game play by a team of members, the processing instructions for directing a computer to: identify the members of the team; identify at least one predetermined rule for rewarding the members of the team when a payout is due to a game-playing team member, wherein identifying at least one predetermined rule includes identifying an activity multiplier associated with the team; detect a payout due to a game-playing team member; and reward the members of the team in accordance with the at least one predetermined rule.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-03-26 | 2004-09-25 | 2005-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-03-26 | 2008-09-25 | 2009-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-03-26 | 2012-09-25 | 2013-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |