Virtual casino host

Abstract

Described herein are systems and methods that improve personalized service in a casino or other gaming establishment. The systems and methods provide a portable personal service device to a person; the device permits the gaming establishment to communicate with the person—regardless of their location in the gaming establishment. Messages sent to the person may be personalized and customized. The portable personal service device may also be used to track the location of the person in the gaming establishment. The person may also use the portable personal service device to send messages, for example, to call casino personnel to them or make other personal service requests.

1 . A method comprising:
 assigning in a server memory two or more persons to a group of persons;   assigning in the server memory each person in the group of persons a unique personal identification;   associating in the server memory each unique personal identification with a unique identification for a portable personal service device carried in a gaming establishment by the person assigned the personal identification;   linking in the server memory the portable personal service devices for the group of persons using the associations;   initiating via the server a communication connection between at least two of the linked portable personal service devices; and   transmitting data, using the communication connection, between the at least two linked portable personal service devices.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing, to a person in the group of persons, the personal service device with the unique identification associated with the unique personal identification assigned to the person. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the providing and the associating occur when the person registers at the gaming establishment. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the person is registered to lodge at the gaming establishment and the portable personal service device is associated with the person for the duration of their lodging. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising tracking the location of the person in the gaming establishment using the location of the portable personal service device carried by the person in the gaming establishment. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising sending the location of the person to a linked portable personal service device carried by another person in the group. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising initiating a communication connection via the server between one or more of the portable personal service devices and a communications device carried by a guest services staff member for the gaming establishment. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a person in the group of persons is associated with the unique identification anonymously. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication connection is used to transmit video. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a server configured to:
 i) assign one or more persons to a group of persons, 
 ii) associate each person in the group of persons with a unique identification for a portable personal service device used by the person, 
 iii) link the portable personal service devices associated with the persons in the group of persons, and 
 iv) initiate a communication connection between at least two of the linked portable personal service devices; 
   the portable personal service device comprising:
 a wireless communication interface, 
 a video display configured to output video, and 
 a processing system configured to output messages on the video display, wherein the portable personal service device is designed to be carried by a person in a gaming establishment, and wherein the wireless communication interface is configured to transfer information between the linked portable personal service devices. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the server is further configured to track the location of each portable personal service device within the gaming establishment. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the server is further configured to send the location of a portable personal service device to another of the linked portable personal service devices. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein a person in the group of persons is associated with the unique identification anonymously. 
     
     
         14 . A portable personal service device comprising:
 a wireless communication interface;   a video display configured to output video; and   a processing system configured to output messages on the video display, wherein:
 the portable personal service device is associated with at least one person within a group of persons in a gaming establishment, 
 the portable personal device is linked with at least one other portable personal device associated with at least one other member of the group, and 
 the wireless communication interface is configured to transfer information between the linked portable personal service devices. 
   
     
     
         15 . The portable personal service device of  claim 14 , wherein the portable personal service device is provided by a gaming establishment. 
     
     
         16 . The portable personal service device of  claim 14 , wherein the wireless communications interface is configured to transmit the location of the portable service device to the other, at least one linked portable service device. 
     
     
         17 . The portable personal service device of  claim 14 , wherein the wireless communication interface is configured to receive the location of the other, at least one linked portable service device. 
     
     
         18 . The portable personal service device of  claim 17 , wherein the video display is configured to show the location of the other, at least one linked portable service device. 
     
     
         19 . The portable personal service device of  claim 14 , wherein the portable personal service device is further linked with a communications device carried by a guest services staff member for the gaming establishment. 
     
     
         20 . The portable personal service device of  claim 14 , wherein the portable personal service device is further configured to receive and display a service message from the gaming establishment.