US2007117633A1PendingUtilityA1

Store and Forward Patron Account Messaging System

39
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Sep 28, 2001Filed: Jan 25, 2007Published: May 24, 2007
Est. expirySep 28, 2021(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Garry Ernest John HamiltonMarvin A. Hein
H04L 67/131G07F 17/3239G07F 17/32G06Q 30/02H04L 12/1813G07F 17/3227
39
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

A patron messaging system is disclosed for contacting a patron via a patron loyalty system. The patron messaging system includes: a patron message database, a message entry and management system, one or more gaming devices, and a display device operatively associated with each gaming device. The patron message database stores patron messages for eventual transmission to a patron. The message entry and management system enables an operator to enter and manage messages intended for one or more patrons. Additionally, the message entry and management system is operatively associated with the patron message database. The one or more gaming devices are interconnected to the patron message database through a network. Additionally, each gaming device is operatively associated with a message response system. The patron messages are viewable via the display device and may be responded thereto via the message response system.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A patron messaging system for contacting a patron via a patron account and loyalty system, the patron messaging system comprising: 
 a server, wherein the server contains the patron account and loyalty system, and wherein the server contains a patron message database that stores patron messages for eventual transmission;    a message entry and management system, wherein the message entry and management system enables an operator to enter and manage messages intended for one or more patrons, and wherein the message entry and management system is operatively associated with the patron message database;    one or more gaming devices, wherein the one or more gaming devices are interconnected to the server through a network, and wherein each gaming device is operatively associated with a message response system; and    a player tracking device incorporate in each gaming device, wherein each player tracking device is operatively associated with a display device, and wherein the patron messages are viewable via the display device and may be responded thereto via the message response system.    
   
   
       2 . The patron messaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the patron message database that stores patron messages for eventual transmission, forwards the stored patron messages to the gaming device at which the patron is located upon the detection of a patron card on the system.  
   
   
       3 . The patron messaging system of  claim 1 , wherein retrieval of patron messages requires a personal identification number.  
   
   
       4 . The patron messaging system of  claim 1 , wherein retrieval of patron messages requires a username and a password.  
   
   
       5 . The patron messaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the patron messages may be designated as private or public.  
   
   
       6 . The patron messaging system of  claim 5 , wherein patron messages designated as private require satisfaction of additional security measures for viewing.  
   
   
       7 . The patron messaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the display device on which the patron messages are viewable is a separate device than a gaming display device used for game play on the gaming device.  
   
   
       8 . The patron messaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the display device on which the patron messages are viewable is the same display device used for game play on the gaming device.  
   
   
       9 . The patron messaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the display device only displays text-based patron messages.  
   
   
       10 . The patron messaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the display device is a displays multi-media graphically-enabled patron messages.  
   
   
       11 . The patron messaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the message response system includes an input device.  
   
   
       12 . The patron messaging system of  claim 11 , wherein the input device includes a keypad.  
   
   
       13 . The patron messaging system of  claim 11 , wherein the input device includes a touch-screen.  
   
   
       14 . The patron messaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the patron messaging system enables targeted messaging to groups of patrons.  
   
   
       15 . The patron messaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the patron messaging system enables third party marketing.  
   
   
       16 . The patron messaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the patron messaging system enables paging services.  
   
   
       17 . The patron messaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the patron messaging system enables patron-to-patron messaging services.  
   
   
       18 . The patron messaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the patron messaging system is offered as a pay service to casino patrons.  
   
   
       19 . The patron messaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the patrons are offered financial incentives for accepting marketing messages from the patron messaging system.  
   
   
       20 . The patron messaging system of  claim 19 , wherein the financial incentives include free game credits, store discounts, restaurant discounts, hotel room discounts, enhanced game odds, enhanced game bonuses, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       21 . The patron messaging system of  claim 1 , wherein acknowledging receipt of a patron message activates other processes including: issuing bonuses, sending a server to the patron's gaming station, issuing complementary drinks, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       22 . The patron messaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the patron messages have additional parameters including abilities to save messages after viewing, the print messages after viewing, automatically delete message after viewing can be, and prompt for additional message deletion options.  
   
   
       23 . A patron messaging system for contacting a patron via a patron loyalty system, the patron messaging system comprising: 
 a patron message database, wherein the patron message database stores patron messages for eventual transmission to a patron;    a message entry and management system, wherein the message entry and management system enables an operator to enter and manage messages intended for one or more patrons, and wherein the message entry and management system is operatively associated with the patron message database;    one or more gaming devices, wherein the one or more gaming devices are interconnected to the patron messaging system through a network, and wherein each gaming device is operatively associated with a message response system; and    a display device operatively associated with each gaming device, wherein the patron messages are viewable via the display device and may be responded thereto via the message response system.    
   
   
       24 . The patron messaging system of  claim 23 , wherein the patron message database that stores patron messages for eventual transmission, forwards the stored patron messages to the gaming device at which the patron is located upon the detection of a patron card on the system.  
   
   
       25 . The patron messaging system of  claim 23 , wherein retrieval of patron messages requires a personal identification number.  
   
   
       26 . The patron messaging system of  claim 23 , wherein retrieval of patron messages requires a username and a password.  
   
   
       27 . The patron messaging system of  claim 23 , wherein the patron messages may be designated as private or public.  
   
   
       28 . The patron messaging system of  claim 27 , wherein patron messages designated as private require satisfaction of additional security measures for viewing.  
   
   
       29 . The patron messaging system of  claim 23 , wherein the display device on which the patron messages are viewable is a separate device than a gaming display device used for game play on the gaming device.  
   
   
       30 . The patron messaging system of  claim 23 , wherein the display device on which the patron messages are viewable is the same display device used for game play on the gaming device.  
   
   
       31 . The patron messaging system of  claim 23 , wherein the display device only displays text-based patron messages.  
   
   
       32 . The patron messaging system of  claim 23 , wherein the display device is a displays multi-media graphically-enabled patron messages.  
   
   
       33 . The patron messaging system of  claim 23 , wherein the message response system includes an input device.  
   
   
       34 . The patron messaging system of  claim 33 , wherein the input device includes a keypad.  
   
   
       35 . The patron messaging system of  claim 33 , wherein the input device includes a touch-screen.  
   
   
       36 . The patron messaging system of  claim 23 , wherein the patron messaging system enables targeted messaging to groups of patrons.  
   
   
       37 . The patron messaging system of  claim 23 , wherein the patron messaging system enables third party marketing.  
   
   
       38 . The patron messaging system of  claim 23 , wherein the patron messaging system enables paging services.  
   
   
       39 . The patron messaging system of  claim 23 , wherein the patron messaging system enables patron-to-patron messaging services.  
   
   
       40 . The patron messaging system of  claim 23 , wherein the patron messaging system is offered as a pay service to casino patrons.  
   
   
       41 . The patron messaging system of  claim 23 , wherein the patrons are offered financial incentives for accepting marketing messages from the patron messaging system.  
   
   
       42 . The patron messaging system of  claim 41 , wherein the financial incentives include free game credits, store discounts, restaurant discounts, hotel room discounts, enhanced game odds, enhanced game bonuses, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       43 . The patron messaging system of  claim 23 , wherein acknowledging receipt of a patron message activates other processes including: issuing bonuses, sending a server to the patron's gaming station, issuing complementary drinks, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       44 . The patron messaging system of  claim 23 , wherein the patron messages have additional parameters including abilities to save messages after viewing, the print messages after viewing, automatically delete message after viewing can be, and prompt for additional message deletion options.  
   
   
       45 . A patron messaging system for contacting a patron via a patron account and loyalty system, the patron messaging system comprising: 
 a server, wherein the server contains the patron account and loyalty system, and wherein the server contains a patron message storage means that stores patron messages for eventual transmission;    a message entry and management means, wherein the message entry and management means enables an operator to enter and manage messages intended for one or more patrons, and wherein the message entry and management means is operatively associated with the patron message storage means;    one or more gaming devices, wherein the one or more gaming devices are interconnected to the server through a network, and wherein each gaming device is operatively associated with a message response means; and    a player tracking device incorporate in each gaming device, wherein each player tracking device is operatively associated with a display device, and wherein the patron messages are viewable via the display device and may be responded thereto via the message response means.    
   
   
       46 . The patron messaging system of  claim 45 , wherein the patron messaging system enables externally originating patron message to be sent from individuals via outside e-mail accounts, mobile phones, personal digital assistants, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       47 . The patron messaging system of  claim 45 , wherein the patron messaging system includes a filter system for blocking spam and other undesirable e-mails.  
   
   
       48 . The patron messaging system of  claim 47 , wherein the filter system includes CAPTCHAS, challenge and response tests, white lists, black lists, or combinations thereof

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