
US Patent No: 7,993,197
Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000
Flexible loyalty points programs
Stats
-
Aug 9, 2011
Issued date -
Aug 10, 2001
filing date -
09/927,742
serial no -
In Force
status
Importance
Abstract
A disclosed a loyalty program transaction network provides a plurality of loyalty program instrument generation sites that award loyalty points. The loyalty points may be stored on loyalty point instruments such as printed tickets, magnetic-striped cards, room keys, portable wireless devices and smart cards. The loyalty program instruments may be issued to a patron of a gaming establishment without receiving identification information from the patron. At a loyalty program validation site, the loyalty program instruments may be used to redeem loyalty points for goods and services or the loyalty program instruments may be used to add loyalty points to an existing loyalty program account. Loyalty points may be earned by the patron during a number of activities such as playing a gaming machine, playing a game of chance, a food purchase, an entertainment purchase, a transportation purchase, a lodging purchase, a merchandise purchase and a service purchase.
First Claim
Related Publications
International Classification(s)
- [Classification Symbol]
- [Patents Count]
Cited Art
| Patent Info | (Count) | # Cites | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| 5,265,874 Cashless gaming apparatus and method | 438 | 1992 | |
| 5,326,104 Secure automated electronic casino gaming system | 471 | 1992 | |
| 5,951,397 Gaming machine and method using touch screen | 565 | 1992 | |
| 5,655,961 Method for operating networked gaming devices | 717 | 1994 | |
| 5,722,891 Slot machine having two distinct sets of reels | 543 | 1995 | |
| 5,702,304 Method and apparatus for operating networked gaming devices | 273 | 1995 | |
| 5,741,183 Method and apparatus for operating networked gaming devices | 392 | 1995 | |
| 5,820,459 Method and apparatus for operating networked gaming devices | 388 | 1995 | |
| 5,643,086 Electronic casino gaming apparatus with improved play capacity, authentication and security | 314 | 1995 | |
| 5,876,284 Method and apparatus for implementing a jackpot bonus on a network of gaming devices | 394 | 1996 | |
| 6,244,958 Method for providing incentive to play gaming devices connected by a network to a host computer | 312 | 1996 | |
| 6,162,122 Method and apparatus for operating networked gaming devices | 279 | 1997 | |
| 6,358,149 Dynamic threshold for pool-based bonus promotions in electronic gaming systems | 185 | 1999 | |
| 6,210,279 Gaming machine and method using touch screen | 276 | 1999 | |
| 6,409,595 Lighted keypad assembly and method for a player tracking system | 82 | 1999 | |
| 6,431,983 Method for providing incentive to play gaming devices connected by a network to a host computer | 197 | 2001 | |
| 2003/0032,474 Flexible loyalty points programs | 108 | 2001 | |
| 2003/0162,593 Contactless card reading in a gaming machine | 20 | 2002 | |
| 2002/0187,834 System, method and interface for monitoring player game play in real time | 81 | 2002 | |
| 7,311,605 Player tracking assembly for complete patron tracking for both gaming and non-gaming casino activity | 46 | 2002 | |
| 2003/0036,425 Flexible loyalty points programs | 144 | 2002 | |
| 2003/0078,101 Player specific game system | 95 | 2002 | |
| 7,025,674 Method and apparatus for awarding and redeeming promotional points at an electronic game | 87 | 2002 | |
| 7,083,518 Bonus system and method of awarding a bonus without playing a game | 13 | 2003 | |
| 2005/0012,818 Security camera interface | 36 | 2003 | |
| 2005/0054,439 Wide area gaming and retail player tracking | 35 | 2004 | |
| 2005/0143,169 Direction interfaces and services on a gaming machine | 69 | 2005 | |
| 2006/0148,561 Player tracking assembly for complete patron tracking for both gaming and non-gaming casino acitivity | 33 | 2005 | |
| 2008/0051,193 FLEXIBLE LOYALTY POINTS PROGRAMS | 28 | 2007 | |
| 2009/0055,204 REAL-TIME PLAYER TRACKING | 13 | 2007 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,586,936 Automated gaming table tracking system and method therefor | 269 | 1994 | |
| 6,319,125 Method apparatus for promoting play on a network of gaming devices | 379 | 1997 | |
| 6,135,884 Gaming machine having secondary display for providing video content | 521 | 1997 | |
| 6,106,396 Electronic casino gaming system with improved play capacity, authentication and security | 226 | 1998 | |
| 6,254,483 Method and apparatus for controlling the cost of playing an electronic gaming device | 324 | 1998 | |
| 6,682,421 Wireless gaming environment | 151 | 2000 | |
| 6,848,995 System to determine casino offers | 33 | 2000 | |
| 6,394,907 Cashless transaction clearinghouse | 142 | 2000 | |
| 6,612,575 Gaming device and method of playing a game | 75 | 2000 | |
| 6,675,152 Transaction signature | 101 | 2000 | |
| 6,852,031 EZ pay smart card and tickets system | 110 | 2000 | |
| 6,628,939 Personal gaming device | 144 | 2001 | |
| 6,712,698 Game service interfaces for player tracking touch screen display | 84 | 2001 | |
| 6,641,484 Gaming machine including security data collection device | 59 | 2001 | |
| 6,935,958 Method and apparatus for machine location | 79 | 2002 | |
| 6,923,724 Gaming system allowing location determination of a gaming unit in a casino | 22 | 2002 | |
| 2006/0258,427 Wide area table gaming monitor and control system | 34 | 2005 | |
| 2006/0046,842 Ticket redemption using encrypted biometric data | 26 | 2005 | |
| 2006/0084,488 Bonusing digital media | 6 | 2005 | |
| 2007/0087,834 CASINO PATRON TRACKING AND INFORMATION USE | 71 | 2006 | |
| 2007/0117,623 Dynamic casino tracking and optimization | 23 | 2007 | |
| 2007/0271,113 Dynamic Casino Tracking And Optimization | 7 | 2007 | |
| 2009/0055,205 MULTIMEDIA PLAYER TRACKING INFRASTRUCTURE | 9 | 2007 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,318,298 Arcade game | 50 | 1993 | |
| 5,816,918 Prize redemption system for games | 625 | 1996 | |
| 6,923,721 Apparatus and method for maintaining game state | 83 | 2000 | |
| 6,612,928 Player identification using biometric data in a gaming environment | 76 | 2001 | |
| 6,811,486 Method and apparatus for enhancing game play through savable game play state | 96 | 2002 | |
| 6,887,154 Shared progressive gaming system and method | 145 | 2002 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,768,382 Remote-auditing of computer generated outcomes and authenticated biling and access control system using cryptographic and other protocols | 532 | 1995 | |
| 5,871,398 Off-line remote system for lotteries and games of skill | 439 | 1996 | |
| 6,110,041 Method and system for adapting gaming devices to playing preferences | 445 | 1996 | |
| 6,203,430 Electronic amusement device and method for enhanced slot machine play | 183 | 1998 | |
| 6,293,866 System for adapting gaming devices to playing preferences | 200 | 2000 | |
| 2003/0027,635 Method and apparatus for generating directives for personnel | 21 | 2002 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,280,326 Cashless method for a gaming system | 91 | 1998 | |
| 6,267,671 Game table player comp rating system and method therefor | 159 | 1999 | |
| 6,471,590 Cashless method for a gaming system | 31 | 2001 | |
| 6,547,664 Cashless method for a gaming system | 49 | 2001 | |
| 6,558,256 Cashless method for a gaming system using player information | 33 | 2001 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,142,876 Player tracking and identification system | 126 | 1997 | |
| 6,234,900 Player tracking and identification system | 98 | 2000 | |
| 6,554,705 Passive biometric customer identification and tracking system | 120 | 2000 | |
| 7,175,528 Passive biometric customer identification and tracking system | 24 | 2003 | |
|
|
|||
| 2003/0069,071 Entertainment monitoring system and method | 56 | 2001 | |
| 2004/0092,307 System and method for redemption of printed vouchers | 36 | 2003 | |
| 7,303,475 Entertainment monitoring system and method | 30 | 2005 | |
| 2006/0052,169 Entertainment monitoring system and method | 14 | 2005 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,186,893 Slot machine advertising/sales system and method | 87 | 1996 | |
| 6,113,495 Electronic gaming system offering premium entertainment services for enhanced player retention | 236 | 1997 | |
| 6,379,247 Method and system for awarding frequent flyer miles for casino table games | 40 | 1997 | |
| 5,967,896 Method and apparatus for controlling a gaming device having a plurality of balances | 96 | 1998 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,761,647 National customer recognition system and method | 444 | 1996 | |
| 6,003,013 Customer worth differentiation by selective activation of physical instrumentalities within the casino | 259 | 1998 | |
| 6,183,362 National customer recognition system and method | 120 | 1998 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,752,882 Method and apparatus for operating networked gaming devices | 342 | 1995 | |
| 5,836,817 Method and apparatus for operating networked gaming devices | 417 | 1995 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,629,019 Activity management system | 46 | 2001 | |
| 2002/0034,978 Activity management system | 27 | 2001 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,329,213 Methods for forming integrated circuits within substrates | 37 | 1997 | |
| 6,254,006 Wireless communication devices and methods of forming wireless communication devices | 14 | 2000 | |
|
|
|||
| 2006/0252,521 Table game tracking | 37 | 2006 | |
| 2006/0252,554 Gaming object position analysis and tracking | 33 | 2006 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,089,975 Electronic gaming apparatus with means for displaying interactive advertising programs | 111 | 1997 | |
| 2005/0116,020 Locating individuals and games in a gaming establishment | 52 | 2003 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,606,744 Providing collaborative installation management in a network-based supply chain environment | 555 | 1999 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,878,062 Method for performing games | 13 | 2002 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,165,071 Method and apparatus for gaming in a series of sessions | 126 | 1997 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,884,173 Configuration technique for a gaming machine | 56 | 2002 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,912,398 Apparatus and method for delivering information to an individual based on location and/or time | 176 | 2000 | |
|
|
|||
| 2002/0198,775 Customer relationship management system and method | 18 | 2002 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,335,809 Entertainment machines | 393 | 1980 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,823,879 Network gaming system | 307 | 1996 | |
|
|
|||
| 2002/0107,715 Automated service scheduling system based on customer value | 10 | 2001 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,321,241 System and method for tracking casino promotional funds and apparatus for use therewith | 195 | 1993 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,514,140 System for machine reading and processing information from gaming chips | 91 | 1999 | |
|
|
|||
| 7,116,988 Location of wireless nodes using signal strength weighting metric | 37 | 2004 | |
|
|
|||
| 7,094,149 Methods and systems for facilitating play at a gaming device by means of third party offers | 68 | 2002 | |
|
|
|||
| 2003/0104,865 Wireless wagering system | 100 | 2001 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,892,661 Smartcard and method of making | 51 | 1996 | |
|
|
|||
| 2002/0169,021 Incremental loyalty bonusing system | 39 | 2002 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,581,257 Radio frequency automatic identification system | 91 | 1994 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,764,666 On-line wagering system with programmable game entry cards | 415 | 1987 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,373,440 Promotional game method and apparatus therefor | 187 | 1992 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,571,216 Differential rewards with dynamic user profiling | 90 | 2000 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,383,076 Monitoring system for plural gaming machines using power line carrier communications | 66 | 1997 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,741,184 Game hall system utilizing storage media | 18 | 1995 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,920,561 Method and system for enabling free seating using biometrics through a centralized authentication | 14 | 2000 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,952,922 In-building modulated backscatter system | 164 | 1996 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,977,913 Method and apparatus for tracking and locating personnel | 251 | 1998 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,813,609 Loyalty rewards for cash customers at a fuel dispensing system | 27 | 2000 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,641,035 Card made of fluorescent material and card reader for use with the card | 14 | 2000 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,048,269 Coinless slot machine system and method | 434 | 1993 | |
|
|
|||
| 2002/0135,621 Auto thumbnail gallery | 4 | 2001 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,971,271 Gaming device communications and service system | 131 | 1997 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,265,977 Radio frequency identification tag apparatus and related method | 319 | 2000 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,257,179 Audit and pricing system for coin-operated games | 120 | 1991 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,302,793 Multi-property player tracking system | 244 | 1998 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,557,086 Game machine system with money-processing station | 75 | 1994 | |
|
|
|||
| 7,022,017 Interactive resort operating system | 31 | 2000 | |
|
|
|||
| 7,116,987 Location estimation of wireless terminals through pattern matching of deduced and empirical signal-strength measurements | 15 | 2004 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,400,272 Wireless transceiver for communicating with tags | 222 | 2000 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,812,824 Method and apparatus combining a tracking system and a wireless communication system | 171 | 2000 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,019,283 Gaming machine system operable with general purpose charge cards | 64 | 1996 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,743,798 Apparatus for playing a roulette game including a progressive jackpot | 95 | 1996 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,144,332 Passive surface wave sensor which can be wirelessly interrogated | 49 | 1994 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,104,815 Method and apparatus using geographical position and universal time determination means to provide authenticated, secure, on-line communication between remote gaming locations | 437 | 1998 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,398,649 Communication method and communication apparatus | 9 | 2000 | |
|
|
|||
| 2002/0194,619 System and method for electronic music video download | 48 | 2001 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,285,295 Passive remote programmer for induction type RFID readers | 55 | 1998 | |
|
|
|||
| 2005/0051,965 Apparatus and method for a card dispensing system | 54 | 2004 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,169,155 Coded playing cards and other standardized documents | 33 | 1991 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,778,820 Method and apparatus for assuring that a telephone wager is placed within the wagering jurisdiction | 60 | 2001 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,424,884 Vending machine with transponder interrogator | 25 | 1999 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,048,271 Automated league and tournament device | 144 | 1996 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,833,540 Cardless distributed video gaming system | 238 | 1996 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,149,522 Method of authenticating game data sets in an electronic casino gaming system | 280 | 1998 | |
|
|
|||
| 2003/0195,037 Video gaming machine for casino games | 100 | 2002 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,193,608 Method for motivating players to return to a casino using premiums | 71 | 1996 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,161,743 Ticket dispenser using sharp pins on a driver roller to advance tickets | 16 | 1999 | |
|
|
|||
| 2004/0254,005 Method, apparatus, and computer readable storage medium for improved tracking of casino players | 8 | 2003 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,856,787 Concurrent game network | 681 | 1988 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,988,501 Identification method and apparatus utilizing perforations | 8 | 1997 | |
|
|
|||
| 5,258,837 Multiple security video display | 116 | 1992 | |
|
|
|||
| 6,319,122 Electronic amusement device and method for providing payouts based on the activity of other devices | 147 | 1998 | |
|
|
|||
| 4,359,633 Spectrally-limited bar-code label and identification card | 83 | 1980 | |
| 4,669,730 Automated sweepstakes-type game | 317 | 1984 | |
| 5,129,652 Casino drawing/lottery game and case/prize management system | 125 | 1991 | |
| 5,290,033 Gaming machine and coupons | 259 | 1992 | |
| 5,770,533 Open architecture casino operating system | 656 | 1994 | |
| 6,193,156 Method and apparatus for patterning cards, instruments and documents | 26 | 1998 | |
| 6,419,190 Airborne cleaning and painting robot | 6 | 2000 | |
| 2002/0077,174 Apparatus and method for maintaining game state | 57 | 2001 | |
| 2005/0255,919 Method and apparatus for machine location | 24 | 2005 | |
| 2006/0258,442 MULTI-PURPOSE CASINO CHIPS | 35 | 2006 | |
Patent Citation Ranking
Maintenance Fees
| Fee | Large entity fee | small entity fee | micro entity fee | due date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Year Payment | $1600.00 | $800.00 | $400.00 | Feb 9, 2015 |
| 7.5 Year Payment | $3600.00 | $1800.00 | $900.00 | Feb 9, 2019 |
| 11.5 Year Payment | $7400.00 | $3700.00 | $1850.00 | Feb 9, 2023 |
| Fee | Large entity fee | small entity fee | micro entity fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surcharge - 3.5 year - Late payment within 6 months | $160.00 | $80.00 | $40.00 |
| Surcharge - 7.5 year - Late payment within 6 months | $160.00 | $80.00 | $40.00 |
| Surcharge - 11.5 year - Late payment within 6 months | $160.00 | $80.00 | $40.00 |
| Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unavoidable | $700.00 | $350.00 | $175.00 |
| Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unintentional | $1,640.00 | $820.00 | $410.00 |