Mobile gaming system

Abstract

A system is disclosed. The system, which is for use with a portable wireless communicator/biometric reader and a portable wireless transceiver, comprises one or more enabling receivers and a facility. The enabling receivers are for receiving wireless signals from the reader. The facility is for communicating with the transceiver to permit the transceiver to serve as a mobile platform for computer gaming when (i) said reader is in communication with at least one of said one or more enabling receivers and (ii) a user, to which said reader is assigned, is operating said reader in accordance with a protocol.

1 . A system for use with a portable wireless communicator/biometric reader and a portable wireless transceiver, the system comprising:
 one or more enabling receivers for receiving wireless signals from said reader; and   a facility for communicating with said transceiver to permit said transceiver to serve as a mobile platform for computer gaming when (i) said reader is in communication with at least one of said one or more enabling receivers and (ii) a user, to which said reader is assigned, is operating said reader in accordance with a protocol.   
   
   
       2 . A system for use with a portable wireless communicator/fingerprint reader and a transceiver defined by a wireless phone, the system comprising:
 one or more enabling receivers for receiving wireless signals from said reader; and   a facility for communicating with said transceiver to permit said transceiver to serve as a mobile platform for computer gaming when (i) said reader is in communication with at least one of said one or more enabling receivers and (ii) a user, to which said reader is assigned, is operating said reader in accordance with a protocol.   
   
   
       3 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein, in use: (i) the user is prompted at random intervals through the transceiver; and (ii) the protocol demands that the reader be actuated by the user to which it is assigned within a predetermined period following each prompt. 
   
   
       4 . A system for use with a portable wireless communicator/fingerprint reader and a transceiver defined by a Bluetooth-enabled wireless phone, the system comprising:
 one or more enabling receivers for receiving wireless signals from said reader; and   a facility for communicating with said transceiver to permit said transceiver to serve as a mobile platform for computer gaming when (i) said reader is in communication with at least one of said one or more enabling receivers and (ii) a user, to which said reader is assigned, is operating said reader in accordance with a protocol.   
   
   
       5 . A system according to  claim 4 , further comprising
 the system further comprises one or more Bluetooth receivers for wireless communication with said transceiver; and   the facility permits said transceiver to service as said mobile platform for computer gaming when said transceiver is communicating via Bluetooth, in accordance with a predetermined parameter, with at least one of said one or more Bluetooth receivers.   
   
   
       6 . A system according to  claim 1 , for use in a casino, wherein said one or more enabling receivers is a plurality of enabling receivers, spaced-apart from one another, to define one or more areas within said casino within which gaming can be conducted. 
   
   
       7 . A system according to  claim 5 , for use by a casino, wherein (i) said one or more enabling receivers comprises a plurality of enabling receivers, spaced-apart from one another, to define one or more areas within said casino within which gaming can be conducted; and (ii) said one or more Bluetooth receivers comprises a plurality of Bluetooth receivers, spaced-apart from one another to provide Bluetooth coverage throughout said one or more areas within which gaming can be conducted. 
   
   
       8 . A system according to  claim 3 , wherein the facility is adapted such that gaming functionality of the transceiver is disabled following the issuance of a prompt, and is automatically enabled if at least one of the enabling receivers detects a response from the reader within a predetermined period following the prompt. 
   
   
       9 . A system according to  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined parameter requires communication between the Bluetooth receiver and the transceiver at a defined interval. 
   
   
       10 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the facility comprises a computer server. 
   
   
       11 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein, in use: (i) the user is prompted at random intervals through the transceiver; and (ii) the protocol demands that the reader be actuated by the user to which it is assigned within a predetermined period following each prompt. 
   
   
       12 . A system according to  claim 2 , for use in a casino, wherein said one or more enabling receivers is a plurality of enabling receivers, spaced-apart from one another, to define one or more areas within said casino within which gaming can be conducted. 
   
   
       13 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein the predetermined parameter requires communication between the Bluetooth receiver and the transceiver at a defined interval. 
   
   
       14 . A system according to  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined parameter requires communication between the Bluetooth receiver and the transceiver at a defined interval. 
   
   
       15 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the facility comprises a computer server. 
   
   
       16 . A system according to  claim 4  for use in a casino, wherein said one or more enabling receivers is a plurality of enabling receivers, spaced-apart from one another, to define one or more areas within said casino within which gaming can be conducted. 
   
   
       17 . A system according to  claim 4 , wherein the facility comprises a computer server. 
   
   
       18 . A system according to  claim 9 , wherein the facility comprises a computer server.