System and method for wireless gaming with location determination

Abstract

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for wireless gaming with location determination are provided. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the system includes a gaming server; a wireless network at least partially covering a property, the wireless network comprising a plurality of signal detection devices; and a gaming communication device operable to transmit and receive gaming information to and from the gaming server via the wireless network. A location of the gaming communication device on the property may be determined based upon a signal received by the plurality of signal detection devices from the gaming communication device. Based upon the location of the gaming communication device on the property, a predetermined functionality of the gaming communication device may be enabled.

1 . An wireless gaming system, comprising: 
 a gaming server;    a wireless network at least partially covering a property, the wireless network comprising a plurality of signal detection devices; and    a gaming communication device operable to transmit and receive gaming information to and from the gaming server via the wireless network;    wherein a location of the gaming communication device on the property may be determined based upon a signal received by the plurality of signal detection devices from the gaming communication device; and    wherein a predetermined functionality of the gaming communication device may be enabled based upon the location of the gaming communication device on the property.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the property comprises a plurality of zones; and 
 wherein the location on the property of the gaming communication device comprises the zone in which the gaming communication device is located.    
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein each zone comprises one or more sub-zones, each sub-zone being associated with a reference set of signal strengths received by the plurality of signal detection devices from a gaming communication device in the sub-zone.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the sub-zone in which the gaming communication device is located may be determined based upon a comparison of a set of signal strengths received by the plurality of signal detection devices from the gaming communication device with the reference set of signal strengths for each sub-zone.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein each zone comprises one or more sub-zones, each sub-zone being associated with a reference set of elapsed times from transmission to receipt of a signal received by the plurality of signal detection devices from a gaming communication device in the sub-zone.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the sub-zone in which the gaming communication device is located may be determined based upon a comparison of a set of elapsed times from transmission to receipt of the signal received by the plurality of signal detection devices from the gaming communication device with the reference set of elapsed times from transmission to receipt of a signal for each sub-zone.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein each zone is associated with at least one allowed activity; and 
 wherein the predetermined functionality of the gaming communication device that may be enabled based upon the location of the gaming communication device includes conducting the at least one allowed activity associated with the zone in which the gaming communication device is located.    
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one allowed activity comprises gambling.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one allowed activity comprises making a reservation.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one allowed activity comprises purchasing merchandise.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one allowed activity comprises purchasing a service.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one allowed activity comprises purchasing food.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one allowed activity comprises purchasing a beverage.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one allowed activity comprises purchasing a ticket to an entertainment event.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one allowed activity comprises purchasing transportation.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one allowed activity comprises conducting a financial transaction.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one allowed activity comprises receiving information.  
   
   
       18 . An wireless communication system, comprising: 
 a server;    a wireless network at least partially covering a property, the wireless network comprising a plurality of signal detection devices; and    a wireless communication device operable to transmit and receive information to and from the server via the wireless network;    wherein a location of the wireless communication device on the property may be determined based upon a signal received by the plurality of signal detection devices from the wireless communication device; and    wherein a predetermined functionality of the wireless communication device may be enabled based upon the location of the wireless communication device.    
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the property comprises a plurality of zones; and 
 wherein the location on the property of the wireless communication device comprises the zone in which the wireless communication device is located.    
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein each zone comprises one or more sub-zones, each sub-zone being associated with a reference set of signal strengths received by the plurality of signal detection devices from a wireless communication device in the sub-zone.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the sub-zone in which the wireless communication device is located may be determined based upon a comparison of a set of signal strengths received by the plurality of signal detection devices from the wireless communication device with the reference set of signal strengths for each sub-zone.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein each zone comprises one or more sub-zones, each sub-zone being associated with a reference set of elapsed times from transmission to receipt of a signal received by the plurality of signal detection devices from a wireless communication device in the sub-zone.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the sub-zone in which the wireless communication device is located may be determined based upon a comparison of a set of elapsed times from transmission to receipt of the signal received by the plurality of signal detection devices from the wireless communication device with the reference set of elapsed times from transmission to receipt of a signal for each sub-zone.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein each zone is associated with at least one allowed activity; and 
 wherein the predetermined functionality of the wireless communication device that may be enabled based upon the location of the wireless communication device includes conducting the at least one allowed activity associated with the zone in which the wireless communication device is located.    
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one allowed activity comprises gambling.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one allowed activity comprises making a reservation.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one allowed activity comprises purchasing merchandise.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one allowed activity comprises purchasing a service.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one allowed activity comprises purchasing food.  
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one allowed activity comprises purchasing a beverage.  
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one allowed activity comprises purchasing a ticket to an entertainment event.  
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one allowed activity comprises purchasing transportation.  
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one allowed activity comprises conducting a financial transaction.  
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one allowed activity comprises receiving information.  
   
   
       35 . A method for wireless gaming, comprising: 
 providing a wireless network comprising a plurality of signal detection devices, the wireless network at least partially covering a property;    receiving at the plurality of signal detection devices a signal from at least one wireless communication device;    determining a location of the at least one wireless communication device based upon the signal received by the plurality of signal detection devices; and    enabling a predetermined functionality of the wireless communication device based upon the location of the wireless communication device.    
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the property comprises a plurality of zones; and 
 wherein determining the location on the property of the at least one wireless communication device comprises determining the zone in which the wireless communication device is located.    
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein each zone is associated with at least one allowed activity; and 
 wherein enabling the functionality of the wireless communication device comprises allowing the wireless communication device to conduct the at least one allowed activity associated with the zone in which the wireless communication device is located.    
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein each zone comprises one or more sub-zones, each sub-zone being associated with a reference set of signal strengths received by the plurality of signal detection devices from a wireless communication device in the sub-zone.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein determining the location on the property of the at least one wireless communication device based upon the signal received by the plurality of signal detection devices comprises: 
 determining a set of signal strengths received by the plurality of signal detection devices from the wireless communication device; and    determining the sub-zone in which the wireless communication device is located based upon a comparison of the set of signal strengths received by the plurality of signal detection devices from the wireless communication device with the reference set of signal strengths for each sub-zone.    
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein each zone comprises one or more sub-zones, each sub-zone being associated with a reference set of elapsed times from transmission to receipt of a signal received by the plurality of signal detection devices from a wireless communication device in the zone.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein determining the location on the property of the wireless communication device comprises: 
 determining a set of elapsed times from transmission to receipt of the signal received by the plurality of signal detection devices from the wireless communication device; and    determining the sub-zone in which the gaming communication device is located based upon a comparison of the reference set of elapsed times from transmission to receipt of the signal received by the plurality of signal detection devices from the wireless communication device with the reference set of elapsed times from transmission to receipt of a signal for each sub-zone.    
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the predetermined functionality comprises gambling.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the predetermined functionality comprises making a reservation.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the predetermined functionality comprises purchasing merchandise.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the predetermined functionality comprises purchasing a service.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the predetermined functionality comprises purchasing food.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the predetermined functionality comprises purchasing a beverage.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the predetermined functionality comprises purchasing a ticket to an entertainment event.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the predetermined functionality comprises purchasing transportation.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the predetermined functionality comprises conducting a financial transaction.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the predetermined functionality comprises receiving information.