Game at cash register

Abstract

In various embodiments, a mobile gaming device may interact with a point-of-sale terminal.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A mobile device comprising:
 a memory;   at least one processor to:
 detect a plurality of cash registers within a predetermined proximity of the mobile device; 
 transmit a signal to each of the cash registers; 
 receive the signal from each of the cash registers; 
 identify which cash register is nearest to the mobile device based on an elapsed time between transmission of each signal and receipt of each signal; 
 obtain a reference elapsed time associated with a subzone in which the mobile device is located; 
 select, based on a comparison of the elapsed time and the reference elapsed time, the cash register nearest to the mobile device for an opportunity to play a game; 
 in response to determining that more than one cash register are approximately nearest to the cash register, execute a tie breaking scheme to select one of the nearest cash registers; and 
 transmit, to a selected nearest cash register, an indication that an item is being purchased via the mobile device 
 receive, from the selected nearest cash register, information indicative of the opportunity to play the game. 
   
     
     
         3 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined proximity is approximately thirty feet. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit, to the selected nearest cash register, an instruction to initiate the game. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , wherein to execute the tie breaking scheme the at least one processor is configured to select one of the nearest cash registers randomly. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , wherein to execute the tie breaking scheme the at least one processor is configured to select a cash register that is not currently involved in a transaction. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , wherein to execute the tie breaking scheme the at least one processor is configured to select a cash register based on a predetermined priority scheme. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to establish an exclusive communication channel with the selected nearest cash register. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to detect a beacon emitted from the plurality of cash registers. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 detecting, by at least one processor, a plurality of cash registers within a predetermined proximity of a mobile device;   transmitting, by the at least one processor, a signal to each of the cash registers;   receiving, by the at least one processor, the signal from each of the cash registers;   identifying, by the at least one processor, which cash register is nearest to the mobile device based on an elapsed time between transmission of each signal and receipt of each signal;
 obtaining, by the at least one processor, a reference elapsed time associated with a subzone in which the mobile device is located; 
 selecting, by the at least one processor, the cash register nearest to the mobile device for an opportunity to play a game, based on a comparison of the elapsed time and the reference elapsed time; 
   selecting, by the at least one processor, the cash register nearest to the mobile device based on the elapsed time for an opportunity to play a game;   in response to determining that more than one cash register are approximately nearest to the cash register, executing, by the at least one processor, a tie breaking scheme to select one of the nearest cash registers;   transmitting, by the at least one processor, an indication to the selected nearest cash register that an item is being purchased via the mobile device; and   receiving, by the at least one processor, information from the selected nearest cash register indicative of the opportunity to play the game.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the predetermined proximity is approximately thirty feet. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising transmitting, by the at least one processor, a game initiation instruction to the selected nearest cash register. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein executing the tie breaking scheme comprises selecting, by the at least one processor, a cash register randomly. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein executing the tie breaking scheme comprises selecting, by the at least one processor, a cash register that is not currently involved in a transaction. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein executing the tie breaking scheme comprises selecting, by the at least one processor, a cash register based on a predetermined priority scheme. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprises establishing, by the at least one processor, an exclusive communication channel with the selected nearest cash register. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprises detecting, by the at least one processor, a beacon emitted from the plurality of cash registers.