Store and Forward Patron Account Messaging Method

Abstract

A method for contacting a patron at a gaming device is disclosed using a patron messaging system via a patron loyalty system. This method includes: providing a patron message database that is operatively associated with a server and the patron loyalty system through a network; providing one or more gaming devices that are interconnecting to the server through the network, and wherein each gaming device includes a player tracking device, a card reader, a display device, and a message response system; entering a patron message intended for one or more patrons into the patron messaging system; storing the patron message in the patron message database; detecting insertion of a patron card into a card reader of a gaming device on the network; forwarding the patron message from the patron message database to the player tracking device incorporated in the gaming device having the inserted patron card; presenting the patron message for viewing on the display device of the gaming device having the inserted patron card; and optionally enabling response to the patron message via the message response system of the gaming device having the inserted patron card.

1 . A method for contacting a patron at a gaming device using a patron messaging system via a patron account and loyalty system, the method comprising: 
 providing a patron message database that is operatively associated with a server and the patron account and loyalty system through a network;    providing one or more gaming devices that are interconnecting to the server through the network, and wherein each gaming device is operatively associated with a message response system;    entering and managing a message intended for one or more patrons using a message entry and management system, wherein the message entry and management system is operatively associated with the patron message database;    storing the patron message in the patron message database for eventual transmission to a patron upon the detection of a patron card on the system;    forwarding the patron message from the patron message database to a player tracking device incorporated in a gaming device, wherein each player tracking device is operatively associated with a display device, and wherein the patron message is viewable via the display device; and    optionally enabling response to the patron message via the message response system.    
   
   
       2 . The method 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 method of  claim 1 , wherein retrieval of patron messages requires a personal identification number.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein retrieval of patron messages requires a username and a password.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patron messages may be designated as private or public.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein patron messages designated as private require satisfaction of additional security measures for viewing.  
   
   
       7 . The method 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 method 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 method of  claim 1 , wherein the display device only displays text-based patron messages.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the display device presents multi-media graphically-enabled patron messages.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message response system includes an input device.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the input device includes a keypad.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the input device includes a touch-screen.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patron messaging system enables targeted messaging to groups of patrons.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patron messaging system enables third party marketing.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patron messaging system enables paging services.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patron messaging system enables patron-to-patron messaging services.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patron messaging system is offered as a pay service to casino patrons.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the patrons are offered financial incentives for accepting marketing messages from the patron messaging system.  
   
   
       20 . The method 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 method 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 method of  claim 1 , wherein the patron messages have additional parameters including abilities to save messages after viewing, print messages after viewing, automatically delete messages after viewing, and prompt for additional message deletion options.  
   
   
       23 . A method for contacting a patron at a gaming device using a patron messaging system via a patron loyalty system, the method comprising: 
 providing a patron message database that is operatively associated with a server and the patron loyalty system through a network;    providing one or more gaming devices that are interconnecting to the server through the network, and wherein each gaming device includes a player tracking device, a card reader, a display device, and a message response system;    entering a patron message intended for one or more patrons into the patron messaging system;    storing the patron message in the patron message database;    detecting insertion of a patron card into a card reader of a gaming device on the network;    forwarding the patron message from the patron message database to the player tracking device incorporated in the gaming device having the inserted patron card;    presenting the patron message for viewing on the display device of the gaming device having the inserted patron card; and    optionally enabling response to the patron message via the message response system of the gaming device having the inserted patron card.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the entering of a patron message intended for one or more patrons into the patron messaging system is performed using a message entry and management system.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein retrieval of patron messages requires a personal identification number.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein retrieval of patron messages requires a username and a password.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the patron messages may be designated as private or public.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein patron messages designated as private require satisfaction of additional security measures for viewing.  
   
   
       29 . The method 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 method 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 method of  claim 23 , wherein the display device only displays text-based patron messages.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the display device presents multi-media graphically-enabled patron messages.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the message response system includes an input device.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the input device includes a keypad.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the input device includes a touch-screen.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the patron messaging system enables targeted messaging to groups of patrons.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the patron messaging system enables third party marketing.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the patron messaging system enables paging services.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the patron messaging system enables patron-to-patron messaging services.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the patron messaging system is offered as a pay service to casino patrons.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the patrons are offered financial incentives for accepting marketing messages from the patron messaging system.  
   
   
       42 . The method 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 method of  claim 23 , wherein acknowledging receipt of a patron message activates other processes including: issuing bonuses, sending a waitress to the patron's gaming station, issuing complementary drinks, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the patron messages have additional parameters including abilities to save messages after viewing, print messages after viewing, automatically delete messages after viewing, and prompt for additional message deletion options.  
   
   
       45 . A method for contacting a patron at a gaming device using a patron messaging system via a patron account and loyalty system, the method comprising: 
 storing a patron message intended for one or more patrons;    detecting a card insertion in a card reader at a gaming device by a patron who has a stored waiting message;    sending an alert to the patron informing him of the waiting message;    receiving a response to the alert, confirming that the patron is ready to receive the waiting message;    transmitting the message to a player tracking device associated with the gaming device having the inserted patron card, wherein the player tracking device is operatively associated with a display device;    presenting the message on the display device associated with the gaming device having the inserted patron card; and    enabling acknowledgement that the player has read the message.    
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising: enabling externally-originating patron message to be sent from individuals via outside e-mail accounts, mobile phones, personal digital assistants, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising: filtering externally-originating patron message to blocking spam and other undesirable e-mails.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein filtering includes using CAPTCHAS, challenge and response tests, white lists, black lists, or combinations thereof.