Apparatus and methods for wireless gaming communications

Abstract

A method of connecting a wireless device to an electronic gaming machine is described. The method includes broadcasting, though a wireless transceiver of the gaming machine, a discovery message to wireless communication devices within a broadcast range of the wireless transceiver. The method further includes receiving, at the wireless transceiver, a response message from the wireless device. The method includes establishing, by the gaming machine, a wireless connection between the wireless device and the gaming machine. The method further includes requesting, by the gaming machine, a player identification and player preferences of a user of the wireless device. The method includes receiving, from the wireless device, the player identification and player preferences of the user. The method further includes broadcasting, through the wireless transceiver, an audio message customized for the user to the wireless device.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 . A gaming system comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 responsive to establishing a wireless connection with a first wireless device associated with a first player:
 receive first data from the first wireless device, said first data being associated with a first custom image associated with the first player, and 
 cause a display device to display the first custom image associated with the first player, and 
 
 responsive to establishing a wireless connection with a second, different wireless device associated with a second, different player:
 receive second data from the second wireless device, said second data being associated with a second, different custom image associated with the second, different player, and 
 cause the display device to display the second, different custom image associated with the second, different player. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the first data is associated with a first custom audio message associated with the first player and when executed by the processor responsive to establishing the wireless connection with the first wireless device associated with the first player, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to cause a speaker to play the first custom audio message associated with the first player. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming system of  claim 2 , wherein the second data is associated with a second, different custom audio message associated with the second, different player and when executed by the processor responsive to establishing the wireless connection with the second, different wireless device associated with the second, different player, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to cause the speaker to play the second, different custom audio message associated with the second, different player. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein when executed by the processor following the establishment of the wireless connection with the first wireless device, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to send a request to the first wireless device to verify a continued presence of the first wireless device within a broadcast range. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming system of  claim 4 , wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the display device to cease displaying the first custom image associated with the first player responsive to the first player has left the broadcast range. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the first wireless device comprises a first cellular device and the second wireless device comprises a second cellular device 
     
     
         7 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the first custom image associated with the first player comprises a first message and the second, different custom image associated with the second, different player comprises a second, different message. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor comprises a gaming machine processor. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming system of  claim 8 , wherein the display device comprises a gaming machine display device. 
     
     
         10 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , further comprising an acceptor, and a cashout device, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to: responsive to a physical item being received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, and responsive to a cashout input being received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance. 
     
     
         11 . A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
 responsive to establishing a wireless connection with a first wireless device associated with a first player:
 receiving first data from the first wireless device, said first data being associated with a first custom image associated with the first player, and 
 causing a display device to display the first custom image associated with the first player, and 
   responsive to establishing a wireless connection with a second, different wireless device associated with a second, different player:
 receiving second data from the second wireless device, said second data being associated with a second, different custom image associated with the second, different player, and 
 causing the display device to display the second, different custom image associated with the second, different player. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first data is associated with a first custom audio message associated with the first player and further comprising, responsive to establishing the wireless connection with the first wireless device associated with the first player, causing a speaker to play the first custom audio message associated with the first player. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the second data is associated with a second, different custom audio message associated with the second, different player and further comprising, responsive to establishing the wireless connection with the second, different wireless device associated with the second, different player, causing the speaker to play the second, different custom audio message associated with the second, different player. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising, following the establishment of the wireless connection with the first wireless device, sending a request to the first wireless device to verify a continued presence of the first wireless device within a broadcast range. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising ceasing to display, by the display device, the first custom image associated with the first player responsive to the first player has left the broadcast range. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first custom image associated with the first player comprises a first message and the second, different custom image associated with the second, different player comprises a second, different message. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a credit balance is increasable based on any awards associated with any plays of any games displayed by the display device, said credit balance being increasable via an acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetary value, and said credit balance being decreasable via a cashout device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , which is provided through a data network. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the data network is at least one of: an internet, a cellular network, and a wireless data network.