Method of player tracking

Abstract

A method of player tracking including: generating a first transfer request in a first requesting tracking system based on a player record identifier identifying a player record and a home tracking system; transferring control of at least part of a player record from a home tracking system to the first requesting tracking system in response to receipt of the first transfer request; establishing a visiting player record in the first requesting tracking system for the at least part of the player record for which control is transferred; and updating the visiting player record in response to one or more player actions in the first requesting tracking system.

1 . A method of player tracking comprising:
 generating a first transfer request in a first requesting tracking system based on a player record identifier identifying a player record and a home tracking system;   transferring control of at least part of a player record from a home tracking system to the first requesting tracking system in response to receipt of the first transfer request;   establishing a visiting player record in the first requesting tracking system for the at least part of the player record for which control is transferred; and   updating the visiting player record in response to one or more player actions in the first requesting tracking system.   
   
   
       2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the transfer includes updating the player record in the home system to include an identifier that identifies the first requesting tracking system. 
   
   
       3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising transferring control of the at least part of a player record as updated in the first requesting tracking system to a second requesting tracking system in response to a second transfer request. 
   
   
       4 . A method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the second requesting tracking system is the home tracking system. 
   
   
       5 . A method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the second requesting tracking system is a further tracking system different to the home and first requesting tracking systems. 
   
   
       6 . A method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein transferring control to the second requesting tracking system comprises:
 updating the player record in the home tracking system to reflect the visiting player record of the first tracking system;   updating the player record in the home tracking system to include an identifier that identifies the second requesting tracking system;   establishing a further visiting player record in the second requesting tracking system for the at least part of the player record for which control is transferred; and   updating the further visiting player record in response to one or more player actions in the second requesting tracking system.   
   
   
       7 . A method as claimed in  claim 5  comprising: determining from the home tracking system the first requesting tracking system;
 transferring control of the at least part of the player record directly from the first requesting tracking system to the second requesting tracking system; and   updating the player record in the home tracking system to include an identifier identifying the second requesting tracking system.   
   
   
       8 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising determining that the transfer request is an eligible request. 
   
   
       9 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising determining how much control of the player record to transfer based on the transfer request. 
   
   
       10 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , comprising making the determination based on the identity of the requesting tracking system. 
   
   
       11 . A method of player tracking comprising:
 generating a first transfer request in a first requesting tracking system based on a player record identifier identifying the player record and a home tracking system;   receiving control of at least part of a player record from the home tracking system;   establishing a visiting player record in the first requesting tracking system for the at least part of the player record; and   updating the visiting player record in response to one or more player actions in the first requesting tracking system.   
   
   
       12 . A method as claimed in  claim 11  comprising: transferring control of the at least part of a player record directly from the first requesting tracking system to a second requesting tracking system subsequent to a transfer request being made by the second requesting tracking system. 
   
   
       13 . A tracking system comprising:
 a player record data structure adapted to store player records, each player record including a player record identifier identifying the player record and being adapted to store data corresponding to a current location of control of at least part of the player record; and   a transfer module adapted to:
 receive a transfer request from a requesting tracking system for the at least part of the player record, the transfer request including the player record identifier identifying the player record to be transferred; and 
 process the transfer request based on the current location of control of at least part of the player record. 
   
   
   
       14 . A tracking system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein upon the transfer module determining to transfer control of at least part of the player record to the first requesting tracking system, the transfer module updates the player record in the home system to include an identifier that identifies the first requesting tracking system as the new current location. 
   
   
       15 . A tracking system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the transfer module is further adapted to update the player record in the home tracking system to reflect a visiting player record of the first tracking system in response to transfer of control of the at least part of the player record back to the home tracking system or to a further tracking system. 
   
   
       16 . A tracking system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the transfer module is further adapted to:
 receive a request from a second requesting tracking system for at least part of the player record;   provide the identity of the first requesting tracking system to the second requesting tracking system; whereafter control can be transferred directly from the first requesting tracking system to the second requesting tracking system; and   update the player record data structure in the home tracking system to include an identifier identifying the second requesting tracking system as the new current location.   
   
   
       17 . A tracking system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the transfer module processes the transfer request to determine whether the transfer request is an eligible request. 
   
   
       18 . A tracking system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the transfer module processes the transfer request to determine how much control of the player record to transfer 
   
   
       19 . A tracking system as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the transfer module makes the determination based on the identity of the requesting tracking system. 
   
   
       20 . A tracking system comprising:
 a player record data structure adapted to store player records, each player record including a player record identifier identifying the player record; and   a transfer module adapted to:
 receive a transfer request from a requesting tracking system in respect of at least part the player record, the transfer request including the player record identifier identifying the player record; 
 transfer control of at least part of the player record to the requesting tracking system; and 
 update the player record data structure to reflect what control of the player record has been transferred to the requesting tracking system and to include location data corresponding to the requesting tracking system. 
   
   
   
       21 . A tracking system as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the transfer module is further adapted to update the player record in the home tracking system to reflect a visiting player record of the first tracking system in response to transfer of control of the at least part of the player record back to the home tracking system or to a further tracking system. 
   
   
       22 . A tracking system as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the transfer module is further adapted to:
 receive a request from a second requesting tracking system for control of at least part of the player record;   provide the identity of the first requesting tracking system to the second requesting tracking system; whereafter control can be transferred directly from the first requesting tracking system to the second requesting tracking system; and   update the player record data structure in the home tracking system to include an identifier identifying the second requesting tracking system as the new current location.   
   
   
       23 . A tracking system as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the transfer module processes the transfer request to determine whether the transfer request is an eligible request. 
   
   
       24 . A tracking system as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the transfer module processes the transfer request to determine how much control of the player record to transfer based on the transfer request. 
   
   
       25 . A tracking system as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the transfer module makes the determination based on the identity of the requesting tracking system. 
   
   
       26 . A transfer module for a tracking system, the transfer module adapted to:
 receive a transfer request from a requesting tracking system for control of at least part of the player record, the transfer request including the player record identifier identifying the player record to be transferred; and   process the transfer request based on a current location of control of the at least part of the player record.   
   
   
       27 . A transfer module as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein upon the transfer module determining to transfer control of at least part of the player record to the first requesting tracking system, the transfer module updates the player record in the home system to include an identifier that identifies the first requesting tracking system as the new current location. 
   
   
       28 . A transfer module as claimed in  claim 26 , further adapted to update the player record in the home tracking system to reflect a visiting player record of the first tracking system in response to transfer of control of the at least part of the player record back to the home tracking system or to a further tracking system. 
   
   
       29 . A transfer module as claimed in  claim 26 , further adapted to:
 receive a request from a second requesting tracking system for control of at least part of the player record;   provide the identity of the first requesting tracking system to the second requesting tracking system; whereafter control can be transferred directly from the first requesting tracking system to the second requesting tracking system; and   update the player record data structure in the home tracking system to include an identifier identifying the second requesting tracking system as the new current location.   
   
   
       30 . A transfer module as claimed in  claim 26 , adapted to process the transfer request to determine whether the transfer request is an eligible request. 
   
   
       31 . A transfer module as claimed in  claim 26 , adapted to process the transfer request to determine how much control of the player record to transfer based on the transfer request. 
   
   
       32 . A transfer module as claimed in  claim 31 , arranged to make the determination based on the identity of the requesting tracking system. 
   
   
       33 . A transfer module for a tracking system, the transfer module arranged to:
 receive a transfer request from a requesting tracking system in respect of at least part the player record, the transfer request including the player record identifier identifying the player record;   transfer control of at least part of the player record to the requesting tracking system; and   update a player record data structure to reflect what control of the player record has been transferred to the requesting tracking system and to include location data corresponding to the requesting tracking system.   
   
   
       34 . A transfer module as claimed in  claim 33 , further adapted to update the player record in the home tracking system to reflect a visiting player record of the first tracking system in response to transfer of control of the at least part of the player record back to the home tracking system or to a further tracking system. 
   
   
       35 . A transfer module as claimed in  claim 33 , further adapted to:
 receive a request from a second requesting tracking system for control of at least part of the player record;   provide the identity of the first requesting tracking system to the second requesting tracking system; whereafter control can be transferred directly from the first requesting tracking system to the second requesting tracking system; and   update the player record data structure in the home tracking system to include an identifier identifying the second requesting tracking system as the new current location.   
   
   
       36 . A transfer module as claimed in  claim 33 , arranged to process the transfer request to determine whether the transfer request is an eligible request. 
   
   
       37 . A transfer module as claimed in  claim 33 , arranged to process the transfer request to determine how much control of the player record to transfer based on the transfer request. 
   
   
       38 . A transfer module as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the transfer module makes the determination based on the identity of the requesting tracking system. 
   
   
       39 . A gaming network comprising:
 a home tracking system; and   a first requesting tracking system,   the home tracking system arranged to transfer control of at least part of a player record from to the first requesting tracking system in response to receipt of a first transfer request;   the first requesting tracking system arranged to:
 generate a first transfer request based on a player record identifier identifying a player record and a home tracking system; 
 establish a visiting player record in the first requesting tracking system for the at least part of the player record for which control is transferred; and 
 update the visiting player record in response to one or more player actions in the first requesting tracking system. 
   
   
   
       40 . A gaming network as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the home tracking system updates the player record in the home system to include an identifier that identifies the first requesting tracking system. 
   
   
       41 . A gaming network as claimed in  claim 39 , further comprising a second requesting tracking system which makes a second transfer request, and wherein:
 the home tracking system updates the player record in the home tracking system to reflect the visiting player record of the first tracking system;   the home tracking system updates the player record in the home tracking system to include an identifier that identifies the second requesting tracking system;   the second requesting tracking system establishes a further visiting player record in for the at least part of the player record for which control is transferred; and   the second requesting tracking system updating the further visiting player record in response to one or more player actions in the second requesting tracking system.   
   
   
       42 . A gaming network as claimed in  claim 39 , further comprising a second requesting tracking system which makes a second transfer request, and wherein:
 the second requesting tracking system determines from the home tracking system the identity of the first requesting tracking system;   control of the player record is transferred directly from the first requesting tracking system to the second requesting tracking system based on the determined identity; and   the home tracking system updates the player record in the home tracking system to include an identifier identifying the second requesting tracking system.