Use of an electronic gaming machine as wireless access point for mobile devices

Abstract

A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones, is described. In particular, an electronic gaming machine (EGM) can be configured with a communication interface that allows portable electronic device carried by the patron to access a network, such as the Internet, with the portable electronic device via the EGM. To prevent patrons from monopolizing an EGM for the purposes of solely accessing the network with their portable electronic devices, the EGM can be configured with interface control logic that controls network access via the communication interface.

1 . An electronic gaming machine comprising:
 a cabinet;   a first communication interface, integrated into the cabinet, for establishing communications between the electronic gaming machine and a portable electronic device;   a second communication interface, integrated into the cabinet, that is configurable to allow the portable electronic device to access a network;   a game controller including a processor and a memory coupled to at least the second communication interface and secured within the cabinet configured to control a wager-based game; and   an interface controller configured to determine an amount of network access time available for the portable electronic device via the second communication interface wherein the amount of network access time available depends on at least an amount of network access time earned from game play activities on the electronic gaming machine, determine a level of network access to grant to the portable electronic device, and interrupt the portable electronic device's access to the network via the second communication interface when it is determined the amount of network access time available is below a minimum amount.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the interface controller is provided in the game controller including a processor and a memory coupled to the second communication interface and secured within the gaming cabinet configured to control a wager-based game. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the interface controller is separate from the game controller. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first communication interface is configured to notify the game controller when a portable electronic device is coupled to the first communication interface. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a communication interface assembly including a status light indicator for indicating a state of the network access provided via the second communication interface. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first communication interface is configured to receive a cord coupled to the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless access interface is configured to provide network access wirelessly to the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the game controller is further configured to, after a first wager-based game is initiated, determine an amount of network access time earned for the first wager-based game, add the amount of network access time earned for the first wager-based game to the amount of network access time available and to start reducing the amount of network access time available to the portable electronic device via the second communication interface based upon a time since the first wager-based was initiated. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming machine of  claim 8 , wherein the amount of network access time that is earned is based upon one or more of an amount wagered, a number of games played, the amount wagered in a time period, the number of games played per time period. 
     
     
         10 . The gaming machine of  claim 8 , wherein the amount of network access time that is earned depends on whether a user has provided player tracking information. 
     
     
         11 . The gaming machine of  claim 10 , wherein the amount of network access time that is earned for a same amount of game play is greater when the user has provided the player tracking information. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming machine of  claim 8 , further comprising a display coupled to the game controller wherein the game controller is further configured to output one of an indication of the amount of network access time available, an indication of amount of network access time earned or combinations thereof to the display. 
     
     
         13 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the game controller is configured to determine an amount of remaining network access time and send to a player tracking system the amount of remaining network access time so that it can be stored to a user's player tracking account. 
     
     
         14 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the game controller is configured to receive player tracking information including network access time earned on another electronic gaming machine and add the network access time earned to the amount of network access time available for the communication interface. 
     
     
         15 . A method in an electronic gaming machine including a communication interface configured to provide network access to a portable electronic device comprising:
 blocking network access via the communication interface;   establishing communications with the portable electronic device via a second communication interface of the gaming machine separate from the first communication interface;   receiving an input signal initiating a first wager-based game through a game controller of the gaming machine;   determining an amount of network access time earned for the first wager-based game;   determining a level of network access to grant to the portable electronic device;   unblocking access to the network to the determined level of network access via the communication interface for only the portable electronic device with which communications have been established;   repeatedly determining network access time remaining based upon the determined amount of network access time earned for the first wager-based game and a time since the first wagered-based game was initiated; and   blocking access to the communication interface when the network access time remaining reaches a minimum threshold amount.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving an input signal to initiate a second wager-based game prior to the network access time remaining reaches the minimum threshold amount while access to the network is unblocked;   determining an amount of network access time earned for the second wager-based game;   repeatedly determining the network access time remaining based upon the determined amount of network access time earned for the second wager-based game and a time since the second wagered-based game was initiated.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 determining network access time remaining when the second wager-based game is initiated; and   repeatedly determining the network access time remaining based upon the determined amount of network access time earned for the second wager-based game, the network access time remaining when the second wager-based game is initiated and the time since the second wagered-based game was initiated.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 determining a combination of the determined amount of network access time earned for the second wager-based game and the network access time remaining when the second wager-based game is initiated exceeds a maximum threshold time amount;   repeatedly determining the network access time remaining based upon the maximum threshold time amount and the time since the second wagered-based game was initiated.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving an input signal indicating a cashout or determining there are no credits remaining for wagers when the network access time remaining is greater than the minimum threshold amount and blocking access to the network.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 changing a state of a network access status indicator visible on a front of the electronic gaming machine when the communication interface is switched on or switched off.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 outputting an indicator associated with a state of the communication interface to a display screen.   
     
     
         22 . An electronic gaming machine comprising:
 a cabinet;   a secondary gaming device coupled to the cabinet including:   a secondary processor, including a processor and a memory, separate from a game controller;   a communication interface that allows network access to be provided to a portable electronic device, the communication interface configured to block network access via the communication interface in response to commands received from the secondary processor;   wherein the secondary processor is configured to determine an amount of network access time available for the communication interface wherein the amount of network access time available depends on at least an amount of network access time earned from game play activities on the electronic gaming machine, determine a level of network access to grant to the portable electronic device, and send a command to the communication interface to block network access when it is determined the amount of network access time available is below a minimum amount; and   the game controller including a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the secondary gaming device and secured within the cabinet, the game controller configured to control a wager-based game and send information related to the game play activities to the secondary gaming device.   
     
     
         23 . The electronic gaming machine of  claim 22 , wherein the secondary gaming device is one of a player tracking unit, a card reader, a bill validator or a printer. 
     
     
         24 . The electronic gaming machine of  claim 22 , wherein the communication interface allows network access to be provided wirelessly to the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         25 . The electronic gaming machine of  claim 22 , further comprising a power interface configured to provide power to the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         26 . The electronic gaming machine of  claim 24 , wherein the game controller is further configured to, after a wager-based game is initiated, determine a level of network access earned for the wager-based game. 
     
     
         27 . The electronic gaming machine of  claim 24 , wherein the level of network access is selected from the group consisting of: text communications, email communications, general Internet access, and high speed Internet access. 
     
     
         28 . The electronic gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first communication interface is configured to establish communications between the electronic gaming machine and a second portable electronic device during communications between the gaming machine and the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         29 . An electronic gaming machine comprising:
 a cabinet;   a first communication interface, integrated into the cabinet, for establishing communications between the electronic gaming machine and a portable electronic device;   a second communication interface, integrated into the cabinet, that is configurable to allow the portable electronic device to access the Internet through the electronic gaming machine;   a game controller including a processor and a memory coupled to at least the second communication interface and secured within the cabinet configured to control a wager-based game; and   an interface controller configured to determine an amount of Internet access time available for the portable electronic device via the second communication interface wherein the amount of Interface access time available depends on at least an amount of Internet access time earned from game play activities on the electronic gaming machine, and interrupt the portable electronic device's access to the Internet via the second communication interface when it is determined the amount of Internet access time available is below a minimum amount.   
     
     
         30 . The gaming machine of  claim 29 , wherein the interface controller is further configured to select a level of Internet access available to the portable electronic device from at least a first level of access and a second level of access. 
     
     
         31 . The gaming machine of  claim 30 , wherein the first level of access corresponds to a first Internet access speed, wherein the second level of access corresponds to a second Internet access speed, and wherein the first Internet access speed is greater than the second Internet access speed.