Dynamic reconfiguration of promotional programs

Abstract

An apparatus to dynamically reconfigure at least one promotional program played on a gaming device comprises a network interface configured to interface with the gaming device and a plurality of devices, a processor coupled to the network interface configured to receive data from the gaming device and the plurality of devices, a database to store the data received from the gaming device and the plurality of devices, a qualifying table database to store at least one qualifying criteria and an associated promotional program, and a data analyzer configured to determine whether the data and the qualifying criteria match, wherein the processor is configured to dynamically reconfigure the gaming device in the associated promotional program if the data and the qualifying criteria match, and wherein the processor is configured to dynamically reconfigure a promotional program server to reflect the reconfiguration of the gaming device in the associated promotional program.

1 . An apparatus to dynamically reconfigure at least one promotional program played on a gaming device, comprising:
 a network interface configured to interface with the gaming device and a plurality of devices;   a processor coupled to the network interface configured to receive data from the gaming device and the plurality of devices;   a database to store the data received from the gaming device and the plurality of devices;   a qualifying table database to store at least one qualifying criteria and an associated promotional program; and   a data analyzer configured to determine whether the data and the qualifying criteria match;   wherein the processor is configured to dynamically reconfigure the gaming device in the associated promotional program if the data and the qualifying criteria match, and   wherein the processor is configured to dynamically reconfigure a promotional program server to reflect the reconfiguration of the gaming device in the associated promotional program.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the database is a queryable database. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the data received is based upon the at least one qualifying criteria. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to dynamically detect a change in status of the gaming device. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to dynamically de-enroll the gaming device from the associated promotional program if a change in status is detected. 
   
   
       6 . A gaming device, comprising:
 a network interface configured to interface with a plurality of servers and a plurality of gaming devices, wherein at least one of the plurality of servers is a configuration server;   a master gaming controller coupled to the network interface configured to receive data from the plurality of servers and the plurality of gaming devices;   a database to store the data received from the plurality of servers and the plurality of gaming devices;   a qualifying table database to store at least one qualifying criteria and an associated promotional program received from the configuration server; and   a data analyzer configured to determine whether the data and the qualifying criteria match;   wherein the master gaming controller is configured to transmit a reconfiguration notification signal to the configuration server if the data and the qualifying criteria match.   
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the database is a queryable database. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the data received is based upon the at least one qualifying criteria. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the master gaming controller is configured to dynamically detect a change in status of the gaming device. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the master gaming controller is configured to dynamically de-enroll the gaming device from the different promotional program if a change in status is detected. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the gaming device is dynamically enrolled in the associated promotional program if an authorization signal is received from the configuration server. 
   
   
       12 . A method for dynamically reconfiguring a promotional program played on a gaming device, comprising:
 inputting at least one qualifying criteria in a remote configuration device;   receiving gaming data at the remote configuration device from the gaming device;   determining if the gaming data matches the at least one qualifying criteria;   dynamically enrolling the gaming device in a second promotional program if the gaming data matches the at least one qualifying criteria; and   dynamically reconfiguring a promotional program server to reflect the enrollment of the gaming device in the second promotional program.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the gaming data is based upon the at least one qualifying criteria. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 monitoring the gaming device for a change in status;   de-enrolling the gaming device from the second promotional program if a change in status is detected; and   reconfiguring the promotional program server to reflect the de-enrollment of the gaming device from the second promotional program.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the determining comprises determining whether the gaming device is a participating gaming device. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the determining comprises:
 querying a license manager;   determining whether a license is required to enroll the gaming device into the second promotional program.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the receiving further comprises polling at least one non-gaming system for data relating to the at least one qualifying criteria. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the dynamically enrolling comprises:
 notifying a user if the input from the gaming device matches the at least one qualifying criteria;   receiving authorization from the user to enroll the gaming device in the promotional program.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 determining if a plurality of gaming devices qualify to enroll in the second promotional program; and   excluding at least one of the plurality of gaming devices if the gaming data does not match the at least one qualifying criteria;   wherein the plurality of gaming devices may be located at multiple sites remote from the remote configuration device.   
   
   
       20 . A method for dynamically reconfiguring a promotional program played on a gaming device, comprising:
 receiving at least one qualifying criteria data from a configuration server;   storing the at least one qualifying criteria in a memory of the gaming device;   receiving gaming data relating based upon the at least one qualifying criteria;   analyzing the gaming data to determine if the gaming data matches the at least one qualifying criteria;   signaling the configuration server if the gaming data matches the at least one qualifying criteria;   dynamically reconfiguring the gaming device to a second promotional program if an authorization signal is received from the configuration server.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 monitoring the gaming device for a change in status; and   de-enrolling the gaming device from the second promotional program if a change in status is detected.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the analyzing comprises determining whether the gaming device is a participating gaming device. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the analyzing comprises:
 querying a license manager; and   determining whether a license is required to enroll the gaming device into the second promotional program.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the method of receiving gaming machine data comprises polling at least one non-gaming device for data corresponding to the at least one qualifying criteria. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the signaling comprises:
 notifying a user if the gaming data matches the at least one qualifying criteria;   receiving authorization from the user to reconfigure the gaming device in the second promotional program.   
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein one of the at least one qualifying criteria is a predetermined period of time.