Method and apparatus for compensating participation in marketing research

The first method and device used to compensate participants in marketing research. Cross-reference of related applications. This application requires submission on June 30, 2000. The title of Walker et al. is Method And Apparatus For Compensating Participation in Marketing Research. Method and device for repaying participants in the survey)", the priority rights of the U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/609,147; the entire content of the patent application is included in this article by reference.

In addition, this application requires submission on May 2, 2000, titled Method And Apparatus For Compensating Participation in Marketing Research", serial number No. 60/201,134 Priority of the US provisional patent application; the entire content of the patent application is included herein by reference.

Related Application This application was submitted on November 10, 2000, and the title of Walker et al. is Method And Apparatus For Conducting Focus Groups Using Networked Gaming Devices", the serial number is No. 09/709,235 co-owned and pending U.S. patent application related; this application requires the rights of U.S. provisional patent application 60/208,359 filed on May 31, 2000. The entire content of each of these applications is incorporated by reference Is included in this article.

This application is also related to the following applications: submitted on December 18, 1996, titled Slot Machine Advertising/Sales System and Method (coin-operated game machine advertising/Sales System and Method), serial number No. 08/769,085 common Owns and pending U.S. patent applications;

Submitted on March 29, 2000, Walker et al. titled Slot Machine Advertising/Sales System and Method", a US patent application with serial number No. 08/769,085;

1998 The US patent application with the title of "Method And Apparatus For Administering A Survey", serial number No. 09/110,626, filed on July 6, 2005;

2000 A US patent application with the title of "System And Apparatus For Telemarketing Presentation (system and method for telemarketing presentation)", serial number No. 09/528,043 filed on March 17, 2005;

Filed on March 29, 2000, a US patent application titled "Method And Apparatus For Providing Anonymous Service Provider Access", serial number No. 09/537,253;

1997 U.S. patent application with the title of "System And Apparatus For Telemarketing Presentation (system and method for telemarketing presentation)", serial number No. 08/820,499, filed on March 19, 2010;

200780001931. 1

1998 Submitted on September 14, 2014, titled "Vending Machine Method And Apparatus For Encouraging Participation In A Marketing Effort (Vending Machine Method and Apparatus for Incentive Participation in Marketing Activities)", serial number No. 09/152,905 US patent application ;

1999 A US patent application with the title "Method and Apparatus For Processing Credit Card Transactions (Method and Apparatus for Processing Credit Card Transactions)", serial number No. 09/316,546 filed on May 21, 2005;

1998 Submitted on December 4, 2012, titled Method and Apparatus For Utilizing A Psychographic Questionnaire In A Buyer-Driven Commerce System (Methods and devices for using psychological pattern questionnaires in a buyer-driven business system)", serial number No. The US patent application of 09/205,663;

1997 Submitted on June 30, 2005, the US patent titled "Electronic Slot machine Offering A Game of Knowledge For Enhanced Payouts", serial number No. 08/885,157 Application;

1999 Filed on March 31, 2005, the United States patent application titled Method and Apparatus For Administering A Survey Via A Television Transmission Network (Method and Apparatus for Administering Surveys Through a Television Transmission Network), serial number No. 09/282,128;

2000 US patent application No. 09/540,498 with the title "Method and Apparatus For Administering A Survey Via A Network", serial number No. 09/540,498 filed on March 31, 2005; all these applications passed The reference is included in this article in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates generally to marketing programs, and more specifically to marketing programs for use in the gaming industry.

BACKGROUND Many businesses invest a substantial portion of their marketing budgets on publicity aimed at attracting the attention of prospective consumers. A lot of publicity spending is dedicated to advertising through various media such as television, radio, printing, direct mail, email, instant messaging, and banner ads. Unfortunately, prospective consumers usually have no incentive to pay attention to these advertisements. The perceived low benefits of viewing ads, together with the tools to easily avoid ads, make it challenging for ads to reach the intended consumers. For example, a remote control can be used to change channels to avoid TV commercials. Similarly, it has been proven that the click-through rate of online banner ads is much lower than expected. Due to these insufficient incentives, conventional advertisements are seriously ignored by the audience.

When striving to achieve more accurate target publicity, businesses will often use surveys to understand the needs and expectations of their consumers and potential consumers. However, conventional investigation techniques suffer from multiple inefficiency. Once the merchant has limited the pool of survey participants, it may be very time-consuming and expensive to gather the desired participants. In addition, conventional survey methods do not fully compensate participants to ensure meaningful and reliable responses. It is also difficult to use conventional survey techniques to provide compensation when it makes the most sense to participants and therefore encourages sincere participants the most.

200780001931. 1 The conventional investigation technique is often ineffective. The merchant does not have sufficient information about the survey participants and therefore cannot draw demographically specific conclusions based on the survey results. In addition, in conventional technology, the merchant did not maintain a progressive relationship with the survey participants. Therefore, merchants cannot effectively perform follow-up investigations based on the results of the first investigation. A method for conducting surveys is needed, where the age, demographic, financial, and other information about the survey participants are well-known. In addition, there is a need for a method for performing surveys on survey participants, and merchants can establish a progressing relationship with the survey participants to perform follow-up surveys.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention includes methods, systems and computer programs for overcoming the above and other shortcomings of conventional solutions. The present invention provides a system that enables consumers to receive immediate and tangible compensation in exchange for responses such as paying attention to marketing messages, providing product or service feedback, committing to purchase a product, or purchasing a product.

An exemplary embodiment of the marketing method of the present invention features a technology by which a merchant can transmit marketing questions to a slotted game server that can be coupled to one or more slot machines. The merchant can specify the target survey group for the marketing plan. The coin-operated game server can transmit marketing questions to the players at the coin-operated game machine. The group of players may be limited to those players included in the merchant's target group. The player can read survey questions through a display device, and can provide answers through an input device, where the display and input device can be associated with a slot machine. The slot machine can transmit the input answer to the slot game server, and can compensate the player for answering the survey question. The coin-operated game server can transmit answers to survey questions to the merchant, and the answers of multiple players can be aggregated before being transmitted to the merchant. The merchant can also compensate the owner of the coin-operated game server.

Advantageously, the present invention uses the ability of slot machines to pay money to reward slot machine players for performing services such as watching advertisements, responding to surveys, purchasing products, and agreeing to try or test new products.

Advantageously, the present invention tests the ability of coin-operated gaming machines to present surveys, advertisements, and purchase promises. This ability, along with the ability of coin-operated gaming machines to pay money, allows players to receive immediate monetary rewards as a return for services performed. Compared with, for example, a promise to receive a check in the mail, such an immediate and tangible monetary reward is more encouraging to the player. If it plays a role in making up for gaming losses or gaming debts, such repayment is even more agitating.

Advantageously, the casino benefits from the player's tendency to immediately put the compensation received from the merchant into the slot machine.

Another advantage of the present invention includes improved survey targeting provided by the immediate availability of player information. For example, such information may include the fact that the player is at least twenty-one years old and the player is at a slot machine location. The results of the game stage can be further obtained from coin-operated gaming machines. Other information can also be obtained from database records associated with the player tracking card.

200780001931. 1 An embodiment of the present invention is characterized by a method for collecting marketing or other information from a player. The method includes transmitting a question to a player who is spatially close to a reimbursement machine, and receiving a response to the question from the player. And transmit a signal to the compensation machine that provides compensation to the player.

The method may also receive player information, and the operation of receiving player information may include receiving the players game history or player identifier, using the player identifier to access player information from a database, and identifying marketing suitable for the player. Question, determine the appropriate time to ask the marketing question, or transmit the marketing question to the player at the appropriate time, such as when there is no interruption time or when the player is about to lose.

The method may further include receiving marketing questions and marketing group restrictions, where the marketing group restrictions may be used to prioritize multiple players, select the player with the highest priority among the multiple players, and identify the Players who have not yet been candidates for participating in different marketing plans among multiple players, identify players among the multiple players who have a history of losing the game and meet the restrictions of the marketing group, receive a marketing question identifier, or use the marketing question identifier to download from Database access marketing issues. The marketing question and the marketing group definition can be received from the merchant. The method may also include identifying players corresponding to the marketing group definition.

The method may also include designing an offer to the player, and may include presenting the offer to the player. The promise can be used to get rewards.

Compensation can include making up for game losses, clearing debts, clearing game losses, exemption from purchases or payments that are destined by other means, cash, available quota, game tokens, increased probability of winning, increased reward payments, insurance protection for losses, Ability to play higher denomination currency game machines with lower denomination currencies, free use of extra coins in multi-coin slot machines, the ability to play games for free, rounding profits to a higher level, participation is only allowed by survey participants Acquired skills or chance games or competitions (ie progressive jackpots), or incidental benefits such as free meals, subsidized meals, free rooms, or subsidized rooms.

The method may further include transmitting the compensation within a time period immediately after receiving the response from the player.

The reimbursement machine may be one of several types of equipment, including coin-operated gaming machines, gaming machines, point-of-sale (POS) terminals, automatic vending machines, digital audio or video payment machines, kiosks, Ticket vending machine, stamp vending machine or automatic teller machine (ATM). Alternatively, the reimbursement machine may prompt the waiter to provide reimbursement.

The method may also include formatting marketing plan results based on the response, and may include transmitting the marketing plan results to a merchant.

The transmission of the compensation may include transmitting the actual compensation to the player, transmitting the compensation to the player once the response is received, transmitting to the player via an automated device, or immediately after receiving the response. transmission.

200780001931. 1 The marketing issues mentioned can include surveys, advertising, publicity, focus group issues, or acceptance of promises.

The method may include receiving the response, wherein the response includes feedback, a promise, and acceptance of a promise to accept the promise.

In another embodiment, the method for collecting marketing information from a player includes transmitting marketing questions to the player, receiving a response to the marketing question from the player, and transmitting the result immediately after the response is received. The compensation machine provides a compensation signal to the player. The compensation machine may be close to the player in space.

The further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be clear from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, similar reference numerals generally indicate equivalent, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements. Generally, the leftmost digit in the corresponding label indicates the drawing in which an element first appears.

Figure 1 depicts a high-level block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of an overview of a system according to the present invention, the system including a slot machine, a coin-operated game server, a marketing terminal, a network, and a product Product fulfillment branch; Figure 2 depicts a block diagram illustrating an exemplary coin-operated game machine in more detail according to the present invention; Figure 3 depicts a block diagram illustrating an exemplary coin-operated game server in more detail according to the present invention; Figure 4 depicts a block diagram illustrating an exemplary marketing terminal in more detail according to the present invention; Figure 5 depicts a block diagram illustrating an exemplary product fulfillment branch in more detail according to the present invention; Figure 6 depicts a block diagram illustrating an exemplary marketing terminal according to the present invention. A two-dimensional chart of a coin-type game server question database; Fig. 7 depicts a two-dimensional chart of an exemplary coin-operated game server player database according to the present invention; Fig. 8 depicts a two-dimensional chart of an exemplary coin-operated game server player database according to the present invention; A two-dimensional chart of the game server answer database; Figure 9 depicts a two-dimensional chart illustrating an exemplary coin-operated game server merchant database according to the present invention; Figure 10 depicts an exemplary product fulfillment branch player database according to the present invention Figure 11 depicts a two-dimensional chart illustrating an exemplary coin-operated game server player database according to the present invention; Figure 12 depicts a flowchart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a marketing method according to the present invention; FIG. 13 depicts an exemplary payment table that has selectively activated the game winning payout; FIG. 14 depicts a flowchart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a method of developing a marketing survey; and FIG. 15 depicts a system in a computer network A high-level block diagram of an exemplary embodiment at a glance, the system includes a slot machine, a slot game server, and a portable communication device.

Detailed ways

200780001931. 1 The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below. Although specific implementations are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustrative purposes only. Those skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

1 depicts a high-level block diagram 100 illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the system overview of the present invention. An exemplary embodiment of the block diagram 100 may include a slot machine (ie, a slot machine) that can be coupled to a slotted game server (ie, server) 104 (Gaming device) 102. The coin-operated game server 104 may be coupled to the marketing terminal 108 and the product fulfillment branch 110 through the network 106. As shown, in an exemplary embodiment, for increased reliability and availability, the slot machine 104 may be coupled to the network 106 through multiple redundant connections. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that the network 106 may include various components known in any related field to provide communication access between nodes of the network 106 (for example, the Internet or a wireless network). It will also be clear to those skilled in the art that alternative configurations can be used to couple the devices of the present invention.

Slot machine players (or consumers) (not shown) may interact with the slot machine 102. Any part of the diagram 100 may be located in a game place, such as a casino or a cruise ship (not shown). The casino may be the owner of the coin-operated gaming machine 102, and may be an entity that can profit from the use of the coin-operated gaming machine 102 by consumers.

In an exemplary embodiment, the slot machine 102 is any compensation machine or device, that is, a machine capable of paying compensation. The slot machine 102 will be described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2.

The slot game server 104 may also be referred to as a controller. In an exemplary embodiment, the coin-operated game server 104 is a device capable of receiving survey questions from one or more marketing terminals 108. The coin-operated game server can transmit the question to at least one coin-operated game machine 102. The coin-operated game server 104 can receive a response from the coin-operated game machine 102 or other reimbursement machines, and can send the The response is transmitted to the marketing terminal 108. In an exemplary embodiment, the response may be sent close to the moment of receiving the response. The slotted game server 104 will be described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 3.

In an exemplary embodiment, the marketing terminal 108 is a device that can receive instructions from a merchant (not shown) and can transmit the instructions to the coin-operated game server 104 via the network 106. The merchant may be an entity that wants to interact with current or potential consumers. The interaction may include, for example, the merchant receiving consumer opinions, receiving commitments from consumers, and advertising products to consumers. The marketing terminal 108 will be described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 4. The product fulfillment branch 110 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 5 below.

Figure 2 depicts a more detailed block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a pay-off machine (ie, slot machine 102). In an exemplary embodiment, the slot machine 102 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 204, the CPU 204

200780001931. 1 For example, it can be coupled to the display screen 202, the communication interface 206, the player input device 210, the player tracking card reader 212, and the compensation device 214. The communication interface 206 can be coupled to the link 208, which is as shown in Figure 1 above. The slot machine 102 is coupled to the slot game server 104 as shown. The player input device 210 may include a microphone, a keyboard, or other known input devices to receive voice or other types of commands.

Other reimbursement machines may also include a reimbursement device 214. Exemplary embodiments of reimbursement machines may include, for example, coin-operated gaming machines, gaming machines, point-of-sale (POS) terminals, automatic vending machines, digital audio, music or video payment machines, kiosks, ticket vending machines ( ticketdispenser), stamp vending machine or automatic teller machine (ATM). It will be clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be applied to other payment machines in an equivalent manner.

The slot machine 102 may include a payline (not shown). The pay line may be such a scale on the slot machine 102 that specific symbols can be arranged along the pay line so that the slot machine player can receive rewards. A typical slot machine 102 may have a single pay line that spans the center of the display screen 202 from left to right. The additional payline can span the top of the screen from left to right, or can be up and down, diagonally, or along some irregular path. The reward table (not shown) may include a chart listing winning symbol combinations together with how much reward is paid when the listed symbols are obtained.

Figure 3 depicts a more detailed block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the coin-operated game server 104, which may include a CPU coupled to the communication interface 306 and the coin-operated game server data storage device 302 304o The communication interface 306 may be coupled to a link 308 that couples the slot machine 104 to the slot machine 102 and the network 106 as shown in FIG. 1 above. The exemplary embodiment of the coin-operated game server data storage device 302 is shown as including exemplary databases, including, for example, a question database 302a, a player database 302b, an answer database 302c, and a merchant database 302do. The following will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6-9, respectively. Describing the databases 302a-302d, Figures 6-9 include exemplary records of the exemplary databases 302a-302d and detailed illustrations of the exemplary fields within the records. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that other and/or alternative databases can be included within the scope of the present invention. The program 304 is operable to perform the method of the present invention, which may include accessing the aforementioned database.

4 depicts a more detailed block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a marketing terminal 108 that includes a central processing unit (CPU) 404 coupled to a display screen 402, a communication interface 406, and an input device 410. The communication interface 406 may be coupled to the link 408, which couples the marketing terminal 108 to the network 106 or the product fulfillment branch 110 as shown in Figure 1 above. Figure 5 depicts a more detailed block diagram illustrating the product fulfillment branch 110 In an exemplary embodiment, the product fulfillment branch 110 includes a CPU 504 coupled to a communication interface 506, a product fulfillment branch data storage device 502, and a product warehouse 510. The communication interface 506 may be coupled to a link 508, as shown in Figure 1 above. An exemplary embodiment of coupling product fulfillment branch 110 to network 106 or marketing terminal 108 as shown. Product fulfillment branch data storage device 502 is shown to include exemplary databases such as player database 502a and product database 502b. The databases 502a and 502b will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, respectively. FIGS. 10 and 11 include exemplary records of the exemplary databases 502a and 502b and detailed illustrations of exemplary fields in the records. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that in the scope of the present invention

200780001931. 1 The scope can include other and/or alternative databases. The program 504 is operable to perform the method of the present invention, which may include accessing the aforementioned database.

Fig. 6 depicts a two-dimensional chart illustrating an exemplary question database 302a of the coin-operated game server 104 in accordance with the present invention. This database is used as a source of survey questions to ask players. The content of the question database 302A can be updated frequently in a manner of appropriately deleting and adding questions.

Illustratively, the question database 302a is depicted in FIG. 6 as having two question records 620 and 622, which represent questions along with possible answers and potential rewards. Each question record 620 and 622 includes six (6) exemplary fields labeled as question identifier 602, question 604, possible answer 606, compensation to player 608, cost to merchant 610, and merchant identifier 612, respectively .

The first exemplary field of the question database 302a contains a question identifier 602. The question identifiers 602 for the question records 620 and 622 are 12561Q and 42564Q, respectively.

The second exemplary field of the question database 302a contains the question 604. Question 605 for question records 620 and 622 are Do you own a Mercedes? (Do you own a Mercedes?) and Do you like moon roofs?

(Do you like skylights?)". These questions can include accompanying graphics, such as company logos or trademarks.

The third exemplary field of the question database 302a includes a possible answer field 606. The possible answers 606 for the question records 620 and 622 are "yes/no" and "open type", respectively. The possible answer field indicates the answer format.

The fourth exemplary field of the question database 302a contains compensation 608 to the player. The compensation 608 to the player for the problem records 620 and 622 is "$1.00" and "$3.00", respectively. These amounts can be updated by the coin-operated game server 104 to manage the player's requirements for the problem as described in more detail with respect to FIG. 12.

The fifth exemplary field of the question database 302a contains the cost 610 to the merchant. The cost 610 to the merchant for the question records 620 and 622 are "$1.50" and "$4.75", respectively.

The sixth exemplary field of the question database 302a contains the merchant identifier 612. The merchant identifiers 612 for the question records 620 and 622 are "General" and "135M", respectively.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that additional or replaceable fields and records can be included in the database without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

FIG. 7 depicts a two-dimensional chart illustrating an exemplary player database 302b of the coin-operated game server 104 in accordance with the present invention. The database can store player information, such as historical game results, demographic information, contact information, and so on. The database can also be used to track survey results completed by players and their related profits.

200780001931.1 In an illustrative manner, the player database 302b is depicted in FIG. 7 as having two player records 720 and 722 corresponding to each player. Each player record 720 and 722 includes nine (9) respectively labeled as player identifier 702, name 704, financial account identifier 706, demographic 708, machine identifier 710, session theoretical win 712, The historical theoretical profit 714, the current game field 716 and the profit 718 field.

The first exemplary field of the player database 302b contains a player identifier 702. The player identifiers 702 for each player record 720 and 722 are "111123 strict and" 222234 strict, respectively.

The second exemplary field of the player database 302b contains the name 704. The names 704 for each player record 720 and 722 are "Sam Brown" and "Linda Jones", respectively.

The third exemplary field of the player database 302b contains the financial account identifier 706. The financial account identifiers 706 for each player record 720 and 722 are "1111-1111-1111-1111" and "2222-2222-2222-2222", respectively. . The financial account can be a credit card number, a debit card number, a checking account number, a pre-stored telephone account number, and so on.

The fourth exemplary field of the player database 302b contains demographic 708. The demographics 708 for each player's records 720 and 722 are "male, 23 years old" and "female, 47 years old", respectively. Such fields can contain other demographic information, including religion, income, number of children, height, weight, other physical characteristics, physical condition, shopping habits, psychographics, diet, ethnicity, clothing size, education level, marital status And geographic mobility.

The fifth exemplary field of the player database 302b contains the machine identifier 710. The machine identifiers 710 of 720 and 722 for each player are "234M" and "532M", respectively. This can identify machines within a particular casino, within a group of casinos, within a network of affiliated casinos, or among all coin-operated gaming machines.

The sixth exemplary field of the player database 302b contains the stage theoretical profit 712. The stage theoretical profit 712 of 720 and 722 recorded for each player is "$58" and "$63", respectively. Stage theory profit is an example of data that can be used to identify players for surveys. Similarly, the theoretical profit at this stage can be tracked on a monthly or yearly basis. Alternatively or additionally, this field can store actual player profit/loss, number of coins inserted (coinin), number of coins dropped (drop), and so on.

The seventh exemplary field of the player database 302b contains the historical theoretical profit 714. The historical theoretical profit 714 for each player record 720 and 722 is "$252" and "$357", respectively. The theoretical profit can represent the lifetime value of the player, and can also be used to select players for investigation.

The eighth exemplary field of the player database 302b contains a field 716 that identifies whether the player represented by the player record is currently playing or not. The currently playing or not fields 716 for each player record 720 and 722 are "Yes" and "no". It should be understood that as used herein, the term player includes players who have played games in the past.

The ninth exemplary field of the player database 302b contains a profit 718. Record 720 and 722 for each player

The profit 718 of the 200780001931.1 section is "$26" and "--" respectively. The profit field 718 stores the profit amount of the player in the current game stage. Note that this amount can be positive, negative, or zero. Profit can be an indicator of player bias in the survey. This indicator can be considered when determining the importance of answers to survey questions to be assigned to players. For example, if a player has a large negative profit, he may respond to many types of problems in a negative way simply out of a feeling of disappointment due to his loss. The merchant or the coin-operated game server may decide not to trust or ignore potential biased responses from players with large negative profits.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that additional or replaceable fields and records can be included in the database without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

FIG. 8 depicts a two-dimensional chart illustrating an exemplary answer database 302c of the coin-operated game server 104 in accordance with the present invention.

By way of illustration, the answer database 302c is depicted in FIG. 8 as having two answer records 820 and 822. Each answer record 820 and 822 includes four (4) fields labeled as question identifier 602, player identifier 702, answer 802, and answer date and time 804, respectively.

The first exemplary field of the answer database 302c contains a question identifier 602, which identifies the question associated with the answer in each answer record 820, 822. The question identifier 602 for each answer record 820 and 822 is "23514Q" and "49322Q", respectively.

The second exemplary field of the answer database 302c contains a player identifier 702. The player identifiers 702 for each answer record 820 and 822 are "395322P" and "032945P", respectively. Such an identifier may be associated with the player's player tracking card.

The third exemplary field of the answer database 302c contains the answer 802. For each answer record 820 and 822, the answers 802 are "Yes" and "I prefer the red car", respectively. In addition to storing text-based answers, this field can store answers in the form of sound files (such as WAV or MP3 files), or store answers as graphics files that can be operated to store such input as handwriting data or video data.

The fourth exemplary field of the answer database 302c contains the answer date and time 804. For each answer record 820 and 822, the answer date and time 804 are respectively^ςΊ/23/2003 2:34 PM" and "2/12/2003 4:00 AM".

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that additional or replaceable fields and records can be included in the database without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Figure 9 depicts a two-dimensional chart illustrating an exemplary merchant database 302d of the coin-operated game server 104 in accordance with the present invention.

By way of illustration, the merchant database 302d is depicted in FIG. 9 as having two merchant records 920 and 922.

200780001931.1 Each merchant record 920 and 922 includes five (5) fields respectively labeled as merchant identifier 612, financial account identifier 706, paid question 902, pool limit 904, and time required for results 906 .

The first exemplary field of the merchant database 302d contains a merchant identifier 612, which identifies the merchant represented by each merchant record 920, 922. The merchant identifier 612 for each merchant record 920 and 922 is "251M" and "693M", respectively.

The second exemplary field of the merchant database 302d contains the financial account identifier 706. The financial account identifier 706 for each merchant record 920 and 922 is "3333-3333-3333-3333" and "4444-4444-4444-4444", respectively . Such account identifiers can include credit card numbers or checking account numbers from which funds can be drawn.

The third exemplary field of the merchant database 302d contains the paid questions field 902, which tracks the number of questions paid by a given merchant. The paid question fields 902 for each merchant record 920 and 922 are "15" and "10", respectively.

The fourth exemplary field of the merchant database 302d contains a group limit 904. The group limits 904 for each of the merchant records 920 and 922 are "500 people, 21-35 years old" and "200 people, women, 35-45 years old", respectively. Other types of groups may include, for example, former luxury car owners, current sports utility vehicle renters, players who have won $100.00 in the last hour, players from Chicago, German-speaking players, and so on. It is also possible to determine group membership through analysis of such other factors or information as a response to a question.

The fifth exemplary field of the merchant database 302d contains the time 906 when the result is required. The time 906 for recording the required results of 920 and 922 for each merchant is T/13/2003" and "1/18/2003 12 PM", respectively.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that additional or replaceable fields and records can be included in the database without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Figure 10 depicts a two-dimensional chart illustrating an exemplary player database 502a of the product fulfillment branch 110 in accordance with the present invention.

Illustratively, the player database 502a is depicted in FIG. 10 as having two player records 1020 and 1022. Each player record 1020 and 1022 includes seven (7) respectively labeled as name 704, address 1002, and product name 1004, purchase/try 1006, financial account identifier 706, deadline 1008 for returning the product, and fields for whether 1010 has been paid.

The first exemplary field of the player database 502a contains a name 704. The names 704 recorded 1020 and 1022 for each player are "Sam Green" and "Hilda Snow", respectively.

The second exemplary field of the player database 502a contains the address 1002. For each player, the addresses 1002 of 1020 and 1022 are recorded as "Anyplace, USA" and "Someplace, USA" respectively.

200780001931. 1 The third exemplary field of the first player database 502a contains the requested product name 1004. The product names 1004 for each player record 1020 and 1022 are "personal digital assistant" and "Swiss watch", respectively.

The fourth exemplary field of the player database 502a contains a purchase/attempt 1006. The purchase/attempt 1006 for each player record 1020 and 1022 is "attempt" and "purchase", respectively. The purchase/attempt field 1006 stores an indication that the player accepts to purchase or try a product or service. Such a promise can appear after the product promotion display of the coin-operated gaming machine.

The fifth exemplary field of the player database 502a contains a financial account identifier 706. The financial account identifiers 706 for each player record 1020 and 1022 are "3333-3333-3333-3333" and "4444-4444-4444-4444, respectively.

The sixth exemplary field of the player database 502a contains a deadline 1008 for returning products. The deadlines 1008 for returning products for each player record 1020 and 1022 are "3/12/2003" and "N/A", respectively.

The seventh exemplary field of the player database 502a contains whether 1010 has been paid. For each player record 1020 and 1022, whether 1010 has been paid is "No" and "Yes", respectively. This field can indicate whether the player has paid for the goods he has purchased, tried, and/or evaluated.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that additional or replaceable fields and records can be included in the database without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Figure 11 depicts a two-dimensional chart illustrating an exemplary product database 502b of the product fulfillment branch 110 in accordance with the present invention. The database can be used to identify products and/or services that are available for players to purchase, try, and/or evaluate.

By way of illustration, the player database 502b is depicted in FIG. 11 as having two product records 1120 and 1122. Each product record 1120 and 1122 includes three (3) respectively labeled as product name 1004, inventory quantity 1102, and The price is 1104 in the field.

The first exemplary field of the product database 502b contains the product name 1004. For each product record 1120 and 1122, the product name 1004 is "personal digital assistant" and "Swiss watch", respectively. Many products can be provided to players, including personal services such as haircuts, beauty, manicure, pedicure, private servants, drivers, products such as computers, clothing, electronics, wine, food, and entertainment such as music, movies, and so on.

The second exemplary field of the product database 502b contains an inventory quantity 1102. The inventory quantities 1102 for each product record 1120 and 1122 are "10" and "20", respectively.

The third exemplary field of the product database 502b contains a price 1104. Record 1120 and 1122 for each product

200780001931. 1 The price of 1104 is "$510" and "$2500" respectively.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that additional or replaceable fields and records can be included in the database without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Figure 12 depicts a flowchart 1200 illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a marketing method in accordance with the present invention. It is important to note that the following technology is described from the point of view of the coin-operated game server 104. It will be clear to those skilled in the relevant art that alternative embodiments of the invention can be used within the scope of the invention.

The flowchart 1200 of the present invention is according to an exemplary embodiment of the illustrated technique of the present invention. The flowchart 1200 illustrates the steps performed from the perspective of the slot game server 104. In an illustrative manner, the flowchart 1200 may start with step 1202 and may continue with step 1204 immediately.

In step 1204, the slot machine 104 receives player information from the slot machine 102, for example. The player information can be used to identify the player as a desired candidate for the merchant. Thus, illustrative player information may include, for example, name, postal address, email address, phone number, demographics, product preferences, and purchase history. It should be clear to those skilled in the art that other useful player information can also be received. In one embodiment, when the player information is received, it can be saved in, for example, a record in the player database 302b, so that when the player provides identification information, other information can be obtained from the player's record. For further information on the exemplary player database 302b, the reader refers to the description above with reference to FIG. 7.

In one embodiment, the player information may be received from the player via an optional player tracking card inserted into the player tracking card reader 212, which may be included in the slot machine 102 in. For more information about the system that enables the tracking of player information and player input, readers can refer to US Patent No. 5,429,361 issued to Raven et al. under the title "Gaming Machine Information, Communication and Display System". The content of the patent is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In another exemplary embodiment, players can also provide player information through surveys. Alternatively, the player information may be provided by a third party, such as a casino employee who has already seen the player. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that player information can be obtained from other sources.

For example, the player information may be recorded by the slot machine 102 by using the player input device 210. The information that the slot machine 102 can record may include the player's betting amount, accumulated loss, game history, and so on. For more information about the system that enables the collection of information about players game stages, readers can refer to U.S. Patent No. 5,249,800 to Hilgendorf et al. for Progressive Gaming Control and Communication System, the content of this patent The entirety is included herein by reference. Player information can also be implicit. For example, the player at the slot machine in Los Angeles is in Los Angeles. In an exemplary embodiment, the only player information received is the fact that the player is at a slot machine 102.

200780001931. 1 From step 1204, the flowchart 1200 can continue with step 1206. At step 1206, in an exemplary embodiment, the coin-operated game server 104 may receive survey questions 604 and survey group restrictions 904 from the merchant.

The merchant at the marketing terminal 108 may define a set of desired characteristics for the respondent. Such characteristics can be defined in a broad or narrow manner, and can include the gender, height, nationality, age, birthplace, name, or other identification of a specific individual, or any other information that can be related to that individual. The merchant can also limit the desired number of respondents. The limit can specify the specific number of respondents or a satisfactory range of numbers. The merchant can specify a set of numbers, each number corresponding to the expected number of respondents with specific characteristics. In addition, the merchant can indicate the number of respondents who put forward a proposition or actually responded to it. In some embodiments, the merchant selects from predetermined survey group definitions instead of explicitly defining the group. Merchants can also submit one or more survey questions for their desired respondents to answer. Alternatively, the merchant may submit instructions for survey questions that have been stored with the slot machine 104 or the slot machine 102.

In addition, the merchant may submit a promise of compensation to the coin-operated game server 104 as a reward for conducting a survey. The promise may be based on a question-by-question basis, a response-by-response basis, or according to the value of the response to reward the coin-operated game server 104. In addition, the promise may be divided into how much the coin-operated game server 104 will be rewarded and the answerers reward. . The exemplary question database 302a described further above with reference to FIG. 6 lists the compensation to the player and the cost of the merchant for each question.

From step 1206, the flowchart 1200 can continue with step 1208.

In step 1208, in an exemplary embodiment, the coin-operated game server 104 may identify a player within the limits of the survey group.

The coin-operated game server 104 can match the player information in the player database 302b described above with reference to FIG. 7 with the merchant survey group definition in the merchant database 302d illustrated and described above with reference to FIG. 9. If the information matches, the player can be considered for receiving survey questions. For example, if the target of the survey group of a particular merchant customer is defined as respondents between the ages of 25 and 35, and Joe Smith is 90 years old, Joe Smith may be eligible to conduct a customer survey of the particular merchant.

Alternatively, the problem group or topic selected for the marketing event may involve promotional coupons or marketing letters from a gaming establishment. The promotional coupons and marketing letters may have their own identifiers and codes, which are automatically or manually entered into the slot machine or the coin-operated game server, the coin-operated game machine Or coin-operated game servers allow questions to target players who have received or are using the identifier and code in these promotions.

In addition to satisfying the constraints defined by the merchant's survey group, the coin-operated game server 104 may impose additional constraints on the selection of players. For example, the player server 104 may only select players who have lost a certain amount of money for the survey. Such a player may be more likely to agree to complete the survey, and the reward given to the player may eventually return to operating coin

200780001931.1 The casino of the first type game server 104. In one embodiment, the coin-operated game server 104 may disclose these additional constraints to the merchant.

Alternatively, it is possible to invite only players who have won a predetermined amount of money in their game round stage to participate in a marketing event, such as an advertisement for a casino performance (such as a concert). Yet another method of selecting players for marketing events includes timing marketing events to be presented to players immediately after a particular game round event. For example, a survey may be presented to the player immediately after the player has won a predetermined bonus game at the slot machine.

For example, assuming that a guest has been selected to receive a marketing event at a slot machine, further analysis can be performed to determine the betting activity invested by the player as the final determination of whether the player receives the marketing event. For example, if a player enters a streak, a marketing event that interrupts the game round can provide the player with welcome comfort. In another embodiment, if a player's betting activity is occurring at a relatively low rate, or the amount of betting is relatively small, interrupting such a player minimizes the loss of betting revenue.

In addition to initiating marketing events based on game game results, marketing events can also target players who are betting on a particular game. For example, only submit questionnaires to players who play video poker. Alternatively, the rate at which the game is played, the size of each bet, the total bet per unit time, or the duration of the game played instead of the game outcome or the type of game the player participates in may be additional or determining factors for presenting a survey to a particular player. In addition, the deciding factors for submitting the survey can include the net win/loss amount associated with the player, the theoretical win amount associated with the player (for example, casinos based on betting on different games with different holding percentages). In statistics, the total amount of profit from the player), whether the player has performed an activity (such as dining in a restaurant, staying in a hotel, etc.), etc.

The importance of the player to the casino can also be a factor of the type of questions asked to the player and the frequency with which the player is asked the questions. Game companies can spend considerable time to ensure that particularly important guests are satisfied with the game company, determine whether they expect any additional services, and ensure that guests are notified of special events (such as entertainment events). In this capacity, the formulation of marketing events serves as a concierge service for guests.

There may be multiple scenarios that increase the complexity of the matching process. That is, a player may fit the criteria for multiple survey groups, a larger number of players than expected may be eligible for the survey, or a smaller number of players may be eligible for the survey. When a player meets the criteria for multiple survey groups, the prioritization system can determine the first group to which the player is assigned. For example, players can be assigned to a group of merchants that have the most recent deadline to complete a survey. Alternatively, players may be assigned to the group equipped with the highest level of compensation. As will be clear to those skilled in the relevant art, many other prioritization strategies are also possible.

When, for example, more players than the merchant expects to be eligible for a survey, the second prioritization system can determine those players for whom the survey will be provided. In one embodiment, players can be randomly selected until the survey group is filled. In another embodiment, it is possible to select those players who have lost the most money in the current game stage. In the third embodiment, players can be assigned to the survey group that is least likely to be filled. For example, if the first group requires

200780001931. 1 The first 70-year-old person, and the second group is only required to be men, even more beneficially, a 71-year-old man can be assigned to the first group instead of the second group. Once again, as will be clear to those skilled in the relevant art, many other prioritization strategies may be used according to other exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

When there are not enough players available to fill the survey group or not enough players have agreed to conduct the survey, the coin-operated game server 104 can take various actions. For example, the coin-operated game server 104 may negotiate with the merchant to allow the merchant to broaden the survey group restriction. For example, if the merchant initially hoped to involve a survey involving single women aged 45-50, the coin-operated game server 104 may request the merchant to also allow women aged 50-55, or may request the merchant to allow married women as well as single women. According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the coin-operated game server 104 may alternatively request the merchant to extend the deadline for completing the survey. In another exemplary embodiment, the coin-operated game server 104 may survey as many players as possible, may expect that the group size is insufficient, and may submit incomplete survey results to the merchant. In another exemplary embodiment, the coin-operated game server 104 may charge the merchant less for incomplete results. Finally, in another exemplary embodiment, if the player has simply disagreeed to participate, the player can promise more rewards to change their attention and participate in the survey.

From step 1208, the flowchart 1200 can continue with step 1210.

In step 1210, in an exemplary embodiment, the slot machine 104 may transmit survey questions to the identified player at the slot machine 102.

In one embodiment, the survey questions may be transmitted through the Internet or other network 106 link coupling the slot machine 104 to the slot machine 102 of the identified player. Many other transmission modes are also possible. The slot machine 102 can then use the display screen 202 to display survey questions to the player on the slot machine 102. An illustrative example implementation of one possible configuration of the slot machine 102 is shown in FIG. 2. Alternatively, the slot machine 102 may, for example, communicate the question to the player in an audible manner or by other means.

In an exemplary embodiment, before questioning the player, the slot machine 102 may ask the player if they want to participate in the survey. The slot machine 102 may also send a promise of reward to the player as a reward for participating in the survey. The slot machine 102 can also transmit the necessary conditions for participating in the survey. For example, the player can be informed that the player must answer questions truthfully and deliberately.

In an exemplary embodiment, if the player does not agree to participate in the survey, the slot machine 102 may notify the slot game server 104 as such, and the slot game server 104 may then choose to replace the player to participate in the survey. In an exemplary embodiment, the slot machine 102 provides players who have refused to participate in the survey with different promises of compensation, hoping to obtain the player's consent. In another exemplary embodiment, the player may only be invited if the player has previously expressed a willingness to do so, for example by deciding to participate. In this embodiment, therefore, there is no need to ask the player whether he wants to participate. Players can also indicate that they do not wish to participate in this survey or any future surveys.

From step 1210, the flowchart 1200 can continue with step 1212.

200780001931. 1 In step 1212, in an exemplary embodiment, the slot game server 104 may receive responses to survey questions from the identified players.

The following are various exemplary embodiments that illustrate methods that players can use to respond to surveys. These methods may include, for example, typing an answer to the player input device 210 (for example, through a touch screen or a keyboard), speaking the answer to the microphone in a verbal manner, or giving the answer to the camera in an action manner. Any of the can be coupled to the slot machine 102. For further information on the system that enables video communication between multiple computing devices, the reader is referred to US Patent No. 5,374,952 to Flohr under the Videoconferencing System (video conferencing system) , The content of the US patent is fully included in this article by reference. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the player input device 210 coupled to the slot machine 102 may include, for example, a standard "QWERTY" keyboard, Dvorak keyboard, numeric keypad, or may include only a small number of keys (e.g. For answering yes or no questions, "T" key (Autumn key) keyboard.

The slot machine 102 (or other reimbursement machine) may receive a response from the player, and then transmit the response to the slot machine 104. The transmission of the response can occur via an Internet link or other network links 106, or via a variety of other communication modes (including wired networks or wireless networks).

From step 1212, the flowchart 1200 may continue with step 1214.

In step 1214, in an exemplary embodiment, the coin-operated game server 104 may transmit a signal to provide the player with tangible benefits in return for answering the question.

After receiving the player's response to the survey question, the coin-operated game server 104 may transmit a signal to the coin-operated game machine 102, authorizing the coin-operated game machine 102 to use, for example, a compensation device coupled to the coin-operated game machine 102 214 reward the player. The transmitted signal may include instructions on how much compensation should be paid to the player and the form of compensation. A database (such as the question database of FIG. 6) may indicate to the coin-operated game server 104 how much compensation should be provided to the player.

In an exemplary embodiment, the compensation may include cash, available amount (credit)>gaming tokens (token), increased odds of winning, increased reward schedule, insurance against loss, payment of twenty-five dollars The ability to split one-dollar machines, the free use of extra coins in multi-coin game machines, the ability to play games for free, rounding profits to a higher level (for example, rounding $85 to $100), and meals such as free or subsidized meals Or the incidental income of a hotel room. In some embodiments, the guest can choose the form of receiving compensation. For example, players can choose to receive player loyalty points (comp points) instead of free games. Gift points are generally those that players can redeem for goods and services promised by the game company. The gift points can give players discounts for the goods and services of the designated game company. Players can be rewarded for participating in marketing events by depositing an appropriate number of bonus points in the player's account. Then the gift points can be used by the player to redeem through the player tracking card. In other embodiments, the player may be provided with tickets or coupons that are redeemable for the gift points.

200780001931. 1 In an exemplary embodiment, the amount of compensation paid may be sufficient to substantially reduce or eliminate the player's game loss, whether it is the current game stage or a certain number of game stages within a certain period of time. Such losses can be tracked through player tracking cards 212, slot machine 102 stage records, or through casino employees' observations of players. The prospect of eliminating the game losses that have been triggered can be an effective incentive for players to participate in the survey.

Another form of compensation includes the promise of advanced game play services for participating in marketing events. In some embodiments, these services include providing players with enhanced (enhanced) game play information, such as statistics about the history of game play, the probability of a particular game or coin-operated game ending (e.g. in the coin-operated gaming machine). The most frequent wins on the console or for the game are three-of-a-kind). A "History" button may be provided, which allows the player to select statistics to be presented on the game display. The statistics may include the number of winning game endings since the last time the jackpot was paid, the largest number of consecutive winning game endings, or the number of coins paid during a period of time. Statistics can be collected for specific coin-operated game machines or for all coin-operated game machines on the computer network. The server can collect and classify statistical data in real time, and provide continuous updates to players through the game display on the coin-operated gaming machine.

In addition, the history button can also provide a statistical analysis of the short-term performance of the coin-operated gaming machine relative to its long-term performance to determine whether the coin-operated gaming machine is "hot" or "indifferent". A list of conditions that indicate deserted and popular games are listed below.

The game is considered "desolate" when the following conditions are met: The game has paid less than a threshold percentage of the number of coins (betting) during a period of time or during the game (for example, less than 50 coins of the coin during the past hour) %) The game has paid less than the threshold amount of total coins during a period of time or game period (for example, less than 10,000 coins in the previous month) Net loss during a period of time or game period (bet amount minus profit) Exceeding the threshold The game is currently being played by less than the threshold percentage of players present (eg less than 5% of the players present) The game is currently being played by players less than the threshold total (eg less than 15 players) Over a period of time or the game More than the threshold number of losing endings during a period of time or a game period of less than the threshold number of winning endings more than the threshold number of consecutive losing endings less than the threshold number of consecutive winning endings of all losing endings during a period of time or game rounding The percentage exceeds the threshold. The game is considered "hot" when the following conditions are met: The game has paid more than the threshold percentage of the number of coins (betting) during a period of time or during the game session (for example, more than the number of coins invested in the past hour) 100% of the coin) The game has recently paid more than the threshold number of coins in a single payment. The game has paid more than the threshold number of total coins in a period of time or during the game (for example, in the last hour

200780001931. 1 More than 1,000 coins) During a period of time or during a game round, the net profit (bet amount plus winning amount) exceeds the threshold. The game is currently being played by more than the threshold percentage of the players present (for example, more than 10 %) The game is currently being played by more than the threshold total number of players (for example, more than 30 players). Less than the threshold number of losers during a period of time or game rounds. Less than the threshold number of wins and endings during a period of time or game rounds. The number of consecutive losing endings with a threshold number of consecutive winning endings more than the threshold number of consecutive winning endings enhanced player help screen may be another premium service promised to the player. In one embodiment, the enhanced help screen can simply explain the different features that the player can use in conjunction with betting on the slot machine. For example, if the player does not use the touch screen capability of a slot machine, the slot machine may inform the player that the touch screen capability can be used to make a player choice. Another embodiment of this type of help screen includes analyzing the player's betting style to detect significant deviations from that style. For example, a slot machine can detect that a conservative player attempts to bet 80% of a large remaining balance on a game ending. A deviation from the conservative betting style can indicate that the player has misunderstood the bet. The slot machine can warn the player and ask for confirmation of the bet.

In other embodiments, more robust help screen advanced services can be obtained. For example, in one embodiment, the help screen may provide recommended game play options or other prompts on the game play, and the recommended game play options or prompts will generate potential high-level returns in probability. Such a help screen may include an analysis of the player's strategy to help the player achieve a better game ending. Such a help screen can point the player to better play the game or give the player other suggestions for implementing advanced strategies. For example, enhanced help screens can provide players with strategies that produce the highest probability of winning the game.

Advanced game play services may also include providing enhanced reward percentages to players participating in marketing events. For example, a player willing to participate in a marketing event (such as a survey, or watching an advertisement) can receive an enhanced game outcome or gain an increased probability of a game outcome. Embodiments that enhance the game's winning outcome may include the ability to play the game with a higher percentage of rewards (eg, using a modified payout table and/or probability table). For example, through player participation in marketing events, coin-operated gaming machines provide players with an increased number of paylines on coin-operated gaming machines, additional bonus games in video gaming machines, paytables with additional game winning outcomes, or higher The probability table of the probability of winning the end of the game.

Turning to FIG. 13, an exemplary embodiment of a payout table 1300 with an additional game winning outcome (7/bar/7 (7/bar/7)) 1310 with selective activation is shown in FIG. 13. As shown in the lower part of Figure 13, only the player answers the three survey questions before the specific game outcome becomes the game winning outcome. If the player answers three more questions, the 1/item/7 ending becomes the game winning ending, and if the game ending occurs, the player is given the right to receive 25 free spins. Of course, it is expected that there are various other ways that players can activate additional payment combinations; in other words, as an alternative or addition to activating the knife strip/7 ending by answering a threshold number of questions, the player can watch a certain number of advertisements in a paragraph Maintain a minimum "survey response rate" in terms of time or number of questions (for example, as long as the player answers 50% of all questions asked, the payment combination remains active), etc. to activate such endings (or other benefits).

200780001931.1 In another embodiment, a player who agrees to test drive Mercedes can increase the player's chance of winning by enabling a new pay line on the slot machine 102. In an exemplary embodiment, the pay line can clearly indicate the sponsorship of Mercedes, effectively becoming a Mercedes pay line. Alternatively, in another exemplary embodiment, as long as the Mercedes symbols on the slot machine 102 are arranged along the pay line, they can become valuable. In summary, in an exemplary embodiment, merchants can please players by associating their name or brand with rewards on the slot machine 102.

In an exemplary embodiment, players who did not agree to watch Mercedes ads can still see the Mercedes payline. In an exemplary embodiment, the slot machine 102 can direct the players attention to a symbol group that, if the player can use the Mercedes payline, can direct the players attention to the symbol group. The player pays money. These additional potential game winning outcomes can be presented to the player, for example, in the form of a pay table or as an additional pay line in a video coin-operated game. A graphical representation may be provided to indicate that these features were not active before the player participated in a marketing event that qualifies the player for these features. Typical graphical methods used to distinguish between active and inactive game play features include graying out or ghosting out the feature, indicating to the player that the feature is not active, but can also continuously remind the player of the features availability. Acquired. For example, in one embodiment, if the winning symbol group does occur across a payline (such as an MCI payline), the player can activate the payline in a retrospective manner, for example, by agreeing to switch the players long-distance business to MCI, and As a result, rewards on MCI paylines are obtained.

In another embodiment, the additional game winning outcome may be displayed on a payment table associated with a slot machine. For example, in a video poker game machine, as a reward for responding to or viewing a marketing event, the player may change Must be eligible to receive the game's winning outcome and pay for a pair less than a pair of Jacks (usually the least likely to receive the game's winning hand).

As another example, a video poker game machine may promise a guaranteed game ending (for example, starting with a pair of Jacks). Alternatively, wild cards (for example, joker for wild cards) can be added to a deck of cards to give the player a greater probability of winning the game.

This feature may be available for a limited time or several game endings before the feature is eliminated as a potential game outcome. At this point, the player can receive an additional marketing event in which participation reactivates the winning outcome of the normally unavailable game.

The pay table used in such an embodiment may display additional game winning outcomes that are not currently available in a format that is graphically distinguishable from the currently available game winning outcome. For example, the winning outcome of a game that is not available can be grayed out or hidden. In other embodiments, the unavailable game outcome can be distinguished from the game winning outcome by color or other light indicators (such as red light or green light) adjacent to the game animal outcome to indicate its availability status.

In another embodiment, players may also be eligible to play special flatrate games at discounted prices

200780001931. 1 Phase. For example, a player may receive a set of ten games for 9 dollars that might normally cost 10 dollars retail, or even provide the flat fee game stage for free. For example, participating in a marketing event may give the player the qualification to play a free flat-fee game stage that has a predetermined number of game rounds. Alternatively, the player may be rewarded with multiple free pulls, which may only be used as a second chance to potentially complete the game and win the outcome during the paid game round.

In another embodiment, the premium service may include allowing the player to lock up the coin-operated gaming machine, or otherwise reserve the coin-operated gaming machine for later playing. Premium services can also include the ability to customize coin-operated gaming machines to the player's preferences, including selection of reel symbol sets and bonus game promises. Premium services may also include allowing players to receive game endings without the need to bet and without the possibility of receiving prizes for the game's winning ending. This allows the player to understand and be familiar with the game rounds provided by a particular coin-operated gaming machine, or allow the player to "flush" the failed ending series from the machine if the player believes that the machine is bound to hit the "unpopular series". Yet another premium service includes overdraft protection for players to continue playing the game even when the slot machine may show a negative balance in the available line meter. Any of the above advanced services can be promised in any combination as a reward for the player's participation in the marketing event, or as a single service.

The type of compensation promised to the player can be based on previous player preferences. For example, it is possible to promise a uniform fee game stage only to players who desire a free game round. Alternatively, the form of compensation can be modified to introduce game company goods or services to players that have no previous purchase records. For example, a player who has not tried a restaurant of a specific game company may be promised a discount on the restaurants meals.

In other exemplary embodiments, compensation may depend on the deliberateness or value of the answer. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, an answer to one word may not reward the player as much as an answer to a paragraph. In an exemplary embodiment, the player's answer may be subjectively evaluated by the merchant or the coin-operated game server 104, or evaluated by one of the two according to a subjective set of rules. To help evaluate or monitor the player to determine whether the player is paying enough attention to the problem, readers can refer to the US Patent No. 5,971,850 Game Apparatus Having Incentive Producing Means granted to Liverance for the content of this patent The entirety is included herein by reference.

From step 1214, the flowchart 1200 can continue with step 1216.

At step 1216, in an exemplary embodiment, the flowchart may end immediately.

Detecting the marketing event initiator (initiator) is in contrast to selecting players from a group of qualified players, and players can be selected based on their activities in the game company. These marketing event initiators include, for example, the player's location in the company, the obvious destinations where the player moves through the company, the purchases made by the player, and so on.

200780001931. 1 The most comprehensive player tracking system most effectively facilitates the process of selecting players. The player tracking system allows gaming companies not only to collect betting data from individual players, but also to collect data reflecting player purchases (such as gift shop items, food and beverages). , Accommodation, concerts, rides, etc.).

The player tracking system can reside on a coin-operated game server, which can be adapted to extend well beyond conventional data capture of player betting activities. It can also include all player purchases, product preferences, food and lodging preferences, performances and events attended by guests, and other data. Using this information, game companies can create personalized guest programs to maximize the entertainment value of players.

For example, a player who returns to play a coin-operated game machine immediately after having a meal at a gaming company may be asked to investigate the player's satisfaction with the quality of the food and service provided by the meal. Therefore, the player's purchase triggers the coin-operated game server to ask the appropriate questions at the right time. For example, within a short time after the player leaves the restaurant, the player can be asked questions about meals and services.

The player tracking system can also use, for example, a positionallocator (such as an RFID or GPS embedded in a player tracking card or a portable communication device (PCD)) that allows the game company to track the player's location, which is used as the time in the game company. Function) technology to further improve. This data provides information about player preferences and activities (such as in specific gaming machines, entertainment events, stores, food and drinks, etc.). Information from this database correlated with the time spent in each of these locations can help identify survey questions and provide insight into targeting a particular marketing event to a customer.

In addition to player tracking, coin-operated game servers can also track game company employees and their activities. For example, an employee identification card can contain an RFID chip to record the employee's location, which can be tracked as a function of time. In addition, for consumer quality considerations, the identification card may have an audio recording capability, which is activated in the public part of the game company to record conversations with guests. Therefore, tracking the player's location can provide information that can help solve problems with consumer service and generally identify the source of problems associated with consumer complaints.

For example, the use of RFID technology to track both players and casino employees makes guest complaints related to specific gaming company employees. This process involves associating the time of day when the problem occurs with the location of the guest and the location of the employees of the gaming company. Employees with employee identification devices with audio recording capabilities can provide additional information to help solve the problem. Therefore, the player tracking system can be mature enough so that all game company employees involved in providing services to consumers can be identified without questioning customers. If the coin-operated game server has insufficient information to identify employees (for example, some game company employees are potentially associated with poor services), a picture of each employee can be generated on the display, allowing the player to identify the particular service providing unsatisfactory service. employee.

Such a tracking system can be used not only to track the unsatisfactory performance of company employees, but also to reward employees. For example, an employee may have a consumer satisfaction goal determined by the survey results, and if the goal is reached, the employee may be rewarded with additional rewards or other compensation.

200780001931. 1. The additional data can be used to monitor game company guests for transaction activities, which can trigger marketing events, which can inquire about the quality of goods and services received and their satisfaction with the purchase. The survey questions can involve guest satisfaction with employees of gaming companies that are providing services and merchandise. In addition to automatically generating survey questions, you can manually enter or select questions to allow game company employees (including employees who have provided services to guests) to inquire about the services provided.

In another embodiment, the player's location (or obvious destination) may be another originator of the marketing event, or at least the originating factor. For example, a player who is clearly leaving the game company can receive a promise to play a series of free games before the player leaves the game company. In another embodiment, a player who stops before the advertisement can receive a promise of a discount on the advertised goods or services. Such discounts can be dictated by the reflected unused capacity of the service or the availability of goods.

In addition, other marketing event initiators may include responses to the delivery of the primary marketing event itself. The response to the main marketing event sends a follow-up marketing event to, for example, players who have responded to a written survey (such as a restaurant quality survey form). This subsequent marketing event can be responded to on a portable communication device, coin-operated game machine, or touch screen television in the guests room to allow more detailed information collection.

Selective logic branch data capture Once a marketing event is initiated, problem groups or basic problem groups related to subjects that players have personally experienced can be developed. The problem groups or basic problem groups can be further developed using selective logic branches to be based on guests The response to the previous question creates another question. This allows gaming companies to create simulated conversations with their guests to identify sources of problems and dissatisfaction, provide information to guests, and develop personalized marketing promises based on transaction data collected from guests. The transaction data may include any player-related information, including any information in the player database, betting activities, purchase activities, player locations, and any player events associated with the activity, and so on.

For example, a series of questions can be generated based on the guest's answers to the initial survey questions. For example, a response to an initial survey question about a restaurant's food and service may generate further questions about the food or service. The answer to each previous question is used to determine the subsequent series of questions. For example, if the player rates the service very high, then no further questions about the event can be asked. On the other hand, if the food or service is rated low, you can ask further questions about the meal. For example, if the player states that the service is poor, further questions can be asked to identify the server who provided the poor service.

The selective logic branch can be further automated to ask other guests (such as those with similar backgrounds or experiences, and those who participate in similar activities and events) questions to further confirm and verify the reported problems or feelings about the game company. These follow-up marketing events can be provided after a potential problem has been reported, after a specified time delay, or within a short period of time after the specified event has occurred.

These data collection methods provide techniques that can allow guests to easily and quickly provide detailed

200780001931.1 The first information, said information has required a detailed declarative response in the past. Using this technology, questions can be developed based on previous answers that allow relatively simple responses to generate meaningful data; allowing game companies to identify potential problems with specificity. This technique of in-depth from general questions to gradually detailed questions allows game companies to capture more details about the event that may subsequently be obtained in other ways with relatively broad questions.

Even detailed declarative responses are usually imperfect, because the answer may promise to provide insufficient, incomplete, or disjointed information that is difficult to discern. On the contrary, the generated questions can be structured to efficiently guide the requested information and details in order to effectively respond to the guests. Of course, as an alternative or in addition to generating follow-up survey questions, a touch screen keyboard or other input device may be provided to the player at the slot machine to allow the player to provide additional information that the player desires to supplement at the reported time.

Finally, the process allows the customer to communicate with the customer service representative who has the background data provided by the customer, who affirms and remedies the problem or provides the service requested by the customer in a more efficient and convenient way .

Corrective Action-Remedial Compensation In one embodiment, this process allows game companies the ability to provide dissatisfied guests with almost immediate remedial actions. For example, based on the guests survey response, player tracking information related to the environment surrounding the guests reported incident, and a database that reflects similar reports of (possibly confirmed) similar incidents, the gaming company can provide compensation for the players unsatisfactory experience . This remedial action may be automatic to provide the player with almost immediate compensation. For example, the game company can confirm that the server at the restaurant of the game company has received many reports about similar poor services, and can automatically provide players with appropriate remedial compensation-without requiring human intervention.

A set of rules can be implemented that determine the type and amount of remedial compensation to be provided to the guest based on the guest's importance to the gaming company, the level of dissatisfaction reported, and the cost of the issue to the player. Other factors that can be included in the consideration of whether to promise remedial compensation include the degree of confirmation that can be used to prove the occurrence of the problem and the maximum value of any compensation that can be automatically provided. Therefore, a highroller in a game company who expresses extreme dissatisfaction with a service provider with a similar report history can immediately provide compensation to the highroller for his betting experience. The level of compensation can exceed (especially in this case) the cost of a restaurant meal. The database can also be used to immediately send particularly serious problems to the management, prompting the management to provide a personal apology to the guests. In this embodiment, due to the importance of the guest to the game company, the game company server may mark the event as a particularly serious problem that requires the management to pay special attention. In the case of a less important guest, the coin-operated game server can determine that the player will only receive coupons for discounted meals.

Process of campaigns with remedial behaviors to initiate marketing events In an exemplary embodiment, FIG. 14 shows a method of collecting survey information based on player activities (marketing event initiators) using branch logic data capture. This includes determining the initial series of questions, applying the initial response

200780001931. 1 The branch logic data part to lead to further information, and to process the information to detect unsatisfactory conditions that enable the system to determine remedial actions. An exemplary embodiment of the marketing event initiated by the campaign illustrated by the flowchart 1400 of FIG. 14 is described below.

In step 1404, the player identifier is received by the slot machine and transmitted to the slot machine server for processing. The player identifier allows the coin-operated game server to search for player activities that can trigger a marketing event, which in turn determines the basic (initial) problem at step 1406. The slot machine server transmits the basic question to the player in step 1408. In step 1410, the coin-operated game server receives the player's response to the basic question. In step 1412, the coin-operated game server determines a follow-up question (that is, a branch logic question) based on the player's response. In step 1414, the follow-up question is transmitted to the player. In step 1416, the player's response to the follow-up question is received. In step 1418, the coin-operated game server then determines whether there is a problem requiring remedial action based on the response to the subsequent problem. If a problem is detected, in step 1420, a reward is made to the identified player for the player's participation. If a problem requiring remedial action is detected in step 1418, an appropriate remedial action is determined in step 1422. In step 1424, remedial compensation is provided to the player.

Periodic data capture used to confirm process control Basic or initial investigation questions and the content of other marketing events can be changed periodically. The survey questions can be retired on an individual guest basis or on a general basis. The problem of scrapping can be permanent scrapping or scrapping for a predetermined period of time before the problem is reintroduced to generate data to ensure that the baseline process status is within tolerance. For example, the time period for the problem to be scrapped can be based on the average guest staying time at the gaming company. The problem can be reintroduced by giving a response to another problem, which can indicate a possible out-of-tolerance condition or a tendency for the process to fail. Such an indication can prompt a new problem or the re-introduction of a scrapped problem to obtain additional information to confirm the potential out of tolerance condition.

Periodic survey questions can also be used to verify player responses to previous questions. The response to the rephrased survey question related to the previously asked question can be evaluated to verify the previous response. Such a response can also be used to show the tendency of the game company's players to feel, and to generally evaluate the entertainment value provided to the guest when the guest is at the game company. This time-separated capture of guest information helps to verify player response and capture the profile of guest satisfaction with the gaming company over time.

Similar player responses can be correlated to further refine the data generated to help assess the situation in the game company, including the effectiveness of remedial actions to correct problems. This data can be used to help game companies identify the company's most urgent issues and evaluate the efficiency of the company's response to these issues.

Periodic data capture also helps to develop trend lines for both players and player groups to determine player perceptions, player satisfaction levels, the efficiency of remedial actions applied to the identified issues, and the game company that is the most time function General performance. Periodic survey question development can establish performance trend lines, determine marketing efficiency, and quantify bit of information about player satisfaction. The coin-operated game server can be programmed to detect performance trend lines

200780001931. 1 The first pass fails or begins to fail, and an alarm is issued to notify the management to take corrective actions.

The answers to survey questions indicating dissatisfaction with the game company can be ranked in a hierarchical manner based on the importance of consumers to the game company. For example, a spender who expresses dissatisfaction with a game company can prompt the game company to immediately investigate and develop remedial actions to remove the source of dissatisfaction. Real-time survey questions used to assess players satisfaction with company events provide a mechanism for real-time detection of problems and their solutions.

For example, periodic survey questions can be used to help casinos establish whether the remedial actions used to resolve complaints have been successful. These questions can involve players subjective perceptions of remedial actions or objective questions about game companies dispute resolution.

Normalizing survey results to establish a comparable response requires a way to normalize the player's response to the survey to account for the large fluctuations in the player's emotional response associated with the game. In order to normalize the survey results, it is possible to establish a procedure that considers multiple different factors to normalize the customer's response to marketing events. For example, the guest's betting performance (both short-term and long-term), response to previous marketing events, the time the player is spending in the casino, the type of game the player is playing, the time elapsed since the meal, the amount of alcohol consumed , Whether the player is a repeat customer of the game company, the level of the betting activity, the amount of money spent on the betting activity, etc. All these different factors can help establish a specific player psychology (psyche), which when quantified can help improve the interpretation of survey answers.

For example, the player response may be correlated with the player's overall betting return and/or recent performance to normalize the survey results based on the player's emotions at the moment of answering the survey questions. Potentially, players can only be required to answer survey questions after the big game wins the finale. Alternatively, the player may be asked survey questions before the player starts the game round to help analyze betting performance factors and their impact on the survey results.

In addition to overall betting returns, player responses to recent survey questions can also be used to help normalize player responses. For example, a guest with a particularly bad experience may skew the survey results. In some cases, a sufficiently long period of time may be allowed before seeking any further feedback from the player, rather than presenting a marketing event that would normally be presented to such players. Even after such a period, these responses may still need to be normalized.

Regardless of the data used to help normalize player responses, the goal is to establish a baseline player psychology to which guest responses can be normalized. The benchmark data can be further normalized by asking the guest the same questions at different times during the guest's stay, in response to this assessment variance.

Alternative Marketing Plans have described exemplary embodiments of the present invention in terms of operating to provide a marketing plan, specifically an exemplary method of operating to provide a marketing event to (specifically) perform a survey. However, as will be clear to those skilled in the art, this

200780001931. 1 The first invention can be equally applied to, for example, other marketing plans including advertisements, and can also be applied to player commitments. For example, the player may be compensated for viewing an advertisement on the slot machine 102. Similarly, players can be compensated for listening to the performance. For example, a speech made by a telecommunications service provider may present a promise to sign up for a service through the slot machine 102. The player can then commit to change the telecommunication service provider through the slot machine 102. In another exemplary embodiment, the player may promise to use the slot machine 102 used to complete the survey or other compensation equipment near the slot machine 102 or other locations to complete the survey in the future. Specifically, in an exemplary embodiment, it is possible to promise compensation to the player for only making a promise after some amount of money has been lost. In an exemplary embodiment, the certain amount of money need not be fixed, but may depend on the player's bet size, the duration of the betting phase, time, and player desirability from the perspective of the merchant (desirability), etc.

Survey Questions to Promote General Guest Satisfaction In some cases, it may be desirable to ask survey questions or present marketing events within a period of time to allow the game company to reinforce specific thoughts or thoughts in the guests mind. Survey questions can be timed and presented to the player to enhance the players perception of the game and its entertainment value. In one embodiment, the survey question or advertisement may be presented to the player as soon as a major game on a slot machine has won the outcome, for example.

For example, immediately after winning a big jackpot, you can ask the player how the game is. After further game rounds, the marketing event can be presented to the player, reminding the player of the previous and most recent wins. Enhancing the player's recent winning memory helps generate a general overall satisfaction with consoles and gaming companies, which players tend to retain.

Interrupting the game with a survey or marketing event after the game's winning ending allows the player to recall the most recent winning game ending. Interruptions in the game round give players time to appreciate the game's winning end. In addition, by answering questions or receiving marketing events related to the game and the outcome of the game, the player's favorite experience is shaped into a more memorable experience.

The interruption of the game game together with the memory enhancement caused by the marketing event involving Zhongyi's experience serves as the mainstay of strengthening the player's pleasant memory of the game's winning ending. The memory of the gaming experience is generally expanded to include and establish a general feeling of preference for the entire gaming company. The concept can also be applied to other goods or services provided by gaming companies besides betting. For example, marketing events can be directed to customers to help them recall special buffets, entertainment events, and so on.

Features of Product Fulfillment In an exemplary embodiment, the slot machine 102 may transmit a signal or notification of the promise to the slot machine 104 when the player commits to purchase or try a product as part of the response. Then, the coin-operated game server 104 may transmit the notification to the product fulfillment branch 110. Readers refer to the description with reference to Figure 5 above. The notification may include player identification information, such as name 704 and player address 1002. The product fulfillment branch 110 may include a large product warehouse, or a central entity that communicates with multiple product sellers. In an exemplary embodiment, after receiving the notification of the player's promise, the product fulfillment branch 110 may arrange for the player to receive the product he has promised. Then, coin-operated

200780001931.1 The merchant at the game server 104 or the marketing terminal 108 can reimburse the product fulfillment branch 110. Alternatively, the coin-operated game server 104 can transmit the players financial account information to the product fulfillment branch 110, so that the product fulfillment branch 110 can send it to the product fulfillment branch 110. Player charges. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that the product fulfillment branch 110 does not need to fulfill products, but can fulfill any type of goods or services intended to be delivered to players.

Exemplary Player Promises and Compensation In an exemplary embodiment, players can respond to questions by offering promises. In an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary commitment that can repay the player may include the player signing a contract for goods or services such as a new credit card, and then transferring the player's gaming debt to the balance of the new credit card.

In another exemplary embodiment, another promise that can reward the player may include, for example, trying a product. In an exemplary embodiment, such a product may be immediately given to the player at the player's slot machine 102. For example, if the player agrees to try a particular imported beer, the waitress can immediately give this beer to the player. Alternatively, in another exemplary embodiment, the product may be brought to the player's hotel room. In another exemplary embodiment, if the player does not explicitly refuse to purchase the product, the charge for the tried product may be included in the credit card previously provided by the player (and stored in the player database 302B).

In another exemplary embodiment, another exemplary compensation that may reward the player may include agreeing to perform an additional number of slot machine 102 pulls, such as a fixed number of slot machine pulls.

In an exemplary embodiment, as long as the player continues to answer the questions, the slot machine 102 may operate automatically without payment from the player. In this embodiment, there may be a minimum rate at which the player must continue to answer questions.

In an exemplary embodiment, compensation may be delivered to the player in a manner that stimulates the player's involvement and interest. For example, a player who has been rewarded for completing a survey may receive compensation intermittently, such as when the player may want to leave.

In another exemplary embodiment, in order to give the player an incentive to answer the question, the reels of the slot machine may not stop spinning until the player answers a specific question.

In another exemplary embodiment, special rewards (such as large jackpots) may only be available to players participating in the survey. In an exemplary embodiment, the coin-operated game server 104 may add money to the progressive jackpot for each survey completed by the player, and may give the player one or more additional opportunities to win the progressive jackpot.

Replaceable reimbursement machine

200780001931. 1 The exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been described above with respect to the slot machine 102. However, as will be clear to those skilled in the art, the present invention can also be applied to any compensation payment device capable of paying immediate and tangible rewards. Exemplary embodiments of reimbursement devices include, for example, automated teller machines (ATM), point-of-sale (POS) terminals, and vending machines capable of paying cash and other forms of reimbursement such as food, products, commodities, and other tangible reimbursements. In another exemplary embodiment, digital audio, digital music, and digital video payment devices can pay audio, music, and video. The kiosk can pay for items such as tickets. In an exemplary embodiment, the slot machine 102 may be handheld and portable.

In an exemplary embodiment, a reimbursement machine such as the slot machine 102 or the slot game server 104 may be coupled to a microphone capable of measuring noise levels in different locations in the casino. Then, if the survey requires audio questions or verbal responses, the coin-operated game server 104 may be based in part on the players ability to hear the question or the coin-operated game machine 102s ability to record the players answers in the presence of noise. Check the selected player. Even if audio is not included, in another exemplary embodiment, players can still be selected based on the degree to which background noise may deviate from the investigation process.

Survey Timing In another exemplary embodiment, the player survey question may be asked in a manner intended to avoid loss of casino revenue, and in the exemplary embodiment, the player may preferably be limited to this questioning method. A potential concern for casinos can be that the time spent answering survey questions is time not spent on gaming. Therefore, in an exemplary embodiment, the player may be asked survey questions during the game break, for example, when the player's slot machine 102 is dropping coins onto the slot machine's tray, or when the coin slot machine 102 is dropping coins into the slot machine tray. When the reel of the slot machine 102 is rotating, or when the coin hopper of the slot machine 102 is being refilled. In an exemplary embodiment, the player can make the slot machine 102 enter the auto-spin mode when answering the survey question, so as to simultaneously play the game and answer the question. In another embodiment, the reels will not stop spinning until the player answers the question. In another embodiment, these questions are asked when coins are falling into the payout tray. This is an example of a time period that can be regarded as a suitable time to ask the player questions without interrupting his game.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the coin-operated game server 104 may give the player an opportunity to answer the inquiry at a specific moment, and preferably, in an exemplary embodiment, the investigation may be restricted to only a specific moment. For example, during times of high consumer traffic, in an exemplary embodiment, the survey may not be used as an important source of casino revenue. At such times of high consumer traffic, coin-operated gaming machines 102 can be provided only for regular games. Conversely, during periods of low consumer traffic, the present invention can be used to generate additional revenue from under-utilized coin-operated gaming machines 102 .

Survey Response Quality In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention may include features to help ensure the high-quality level of response of the present invention. In an exemplary embodiment, the player may be restricted to a certain number of surveys per time period (e.g., daily) to prevent the player

200780001931. 1 Become a biased or "professional" respondent.

Players who have been observed to drink too much during the phase can also be considered biased. In one embodiment, the coin-operated game server 104 may transmit information related to the player's bias to the merchant.

In an exemplary embodiment, the slot machine 102 may be equipped to detect whether the player is paying attention to surveys or advertisements. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, a camera can be used to track the player's gaze, a biometric device can track a psychological response, and a timer can track the regularity of the player's response. The applicant has disclosed a method for verifying the player's sufficient attention to the task. In an exemplary embodiment, if it is determined that the player did not pay enough attention, the player may not receive the full compensation, or be punished in other ways.

Although in an exemplary embodiment, the coin-operated game server 104 may monitor players, in an exemplary embodiment, the coin-operated game server 104 does not impose penalties on itself. However, in an exemplary embodiment, the coin-operated game server 104 may submit a record of players under investigation to the merchant. For example, if the merchant wants to watch the player to be surveyed, the coin-operated game server 104 may provide the player's video tape to the merchant. In an exemplary embodiment, the merchant may use the marketing terminal 108 to request verification. Exemplary verification may include requesting verification of the player's attention or requesting verification of the player's age information.

Many casinos have used cameras extensively to prevent players from cheating. Such casino cameras are often attached to the ceiling. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which the present invention employs a video camera, the video cameras can be easily detached from the slot machine as they can be installed in them.

In additional exemplary embodiments, additional ways to encourage players to pay attention while watching advertisements may include techniques through which the slot machine 102 can periodically ask the players questions related to advertisements. And the correct response can be rewarded with compensation such as cash payment.

In another exemplary embodiment, it is possible to prevent players who have received compensation as spending a block of time (for example, for answering surveys or watching advertisements) from leaving during the time block. For example, the player's compensation may include automatically playing a coin-operated game machine with an increased reward table while the player watches an advertisement for, for example, a tour or other vacation product. If the player wins a big prize, in an exemplary embodiment, the player is prevented from leaving with his profit until the advertisement has ended. For example, the slot machine 102 prevents the player from leaving by not paying any coins until the advertisement ends. Alternatively, if you leave early, you can charge the player's financial account or gaming credit account.

The quality of the responses provided during the survey can be graded in a hierarchical manner based on the details provided to the survey responses. For example, a player who provides a piece of detail in response to a survey question can be rewarded more generously than a player who only answers yes or no to the survey question. For example, a player who reports a poor service from a server and provides the name of the server gets a higher reward than a guest who only reports that some server provides a poor service.

Target marketing to players

200780001931. 1 First, in an exemplary embodiment, the merchant or coin-operated game server 104 may desire to ask a specific player or a type of player identified by a specific demographic or recognizable characteristic or attribute. Then, if the target player ever sat down at the slot machine 102, the question can be prepared to be quickly delivered to the target player. Therefore, when the player appears at the slot machine 102, in an exemplary embodiment, the slot game server 104 immediately forwards the question to him instead of searching for a suitable survey group to place it in it. Alternatively, these questions may be associated with the player's player tracking card and may be asked by the player's next slot machine 102 without interference from the slot game server 104.

In an exemplary embodiment, the merchant can look at the player information of one or more players, and can tailor the questions for these players, instead of asking the questions first and hoping that the correct survey group is filled.

In other exemplary embodiments, multiple merchants may receive the same answer to the same question from the same player. For example, this feature may allow more merchants to complete their surveys.

In an exemplary embodiment, survey questions from multiple merchants can be intermingled when giving players.

In an exemplary embodiment, the central server or coin-operated game server 104 may transmit the question to the player even before the merchant can submit the survey question or survey group definition. Then, the player's answers can be stored and provided to the merchant, who then submits the merchant that matches those questions that have been asked, and the merchant's survey group is limited to include players who have been surveyed.

In an exemplary embodiment, the player may be rewarded for the potential to win money by investigating questions for a variety of behaviors, for example, the behavior includes maintaining a drop frequency of a coin-operated game or placing a certain amount of betting.

In an exemplary embodiment, the coin-operated game server 104 and the merchant may be the same entity.

In an exemplary embodiment, in addition to providing survey questions, the merchant may provide rules for giving questions. For example, depending on the answer to the first question, the second question or the third question can be asked. In an exemplary embodiment, new survey questions can be dynamically generated based on previous responses. In an exemplary embodiment, the problem may be caused by a program or a person, for example.

In an exemplary embodiment, the survey question can define the survey group by itself. For example, the merchant can ask the age with the first question, and then can provide a specific series of questions to a group of respondents who answered the age greater than 50 years.

Therefore, multiple types of promotional coupons (vouchers) can be mailed to target groups or individuals who are potential guests of the game company. These coupons can be read by a ticket validator and used as temporary player tracking cards.

The coupon itself may have a unique identification number that identifies the player or group to which the coupon was sent. On one implementer

200780001931. 1 In the first case, the coupon may be redeemable only when combined with a player tracking card, and the player tracking card confirms that the individual who redeemed the coupon is the individual who initially sent the coupon to it. Otherwise, the uniquely assigned player tracking identifier on the coupon-unique to the coupon-can be used as the player identifier. Both the group and individual identifiers can be used to help determine the marketing events (surveys, service promises) received by the player, etc.

For example, some individuals can be selected and mailed to them with coupons or other coupons that can be exchanged for special promotional promises, free games, and any other types of compensation mentioned above at the slot machine. The individuals selected to receive the coupon may be part of a bulk mail, or may involve a specific type of individual. Regardless of the individuals previous experience with the game company, enough information about the individual can be known to tailor a specific set of marketing events for that individual (or a group of similar individuals).

In one embodiment, a ticket reader that is normally used to redeem cashless game coupons can be used at the coin-operated gaming machine to perform coupon redemption. The identification number printed on the coupon can identify a specific marketing event and be used to put the coin-operated gaming machine in survey mode. The slot machine transmits the identifier on the coupon to the slot machine server. The coin-operated game server reads the identifier and triggers the coin-operated game machine to enter the investigation mode. The coin-operated game server transmits this survey pattern to the coin-operated game machine and starts the survey process with the guest's third coin-operated game machine. The identifier may identify a specific survey to provide guests or may provide a standard survey format.

In addition to embedding the survey start identifier on the coupon (usually read by the bill verification machine), the survey start identifier can also be manually input into the coin-operated game machine through the player tracking interface. Alternatively, the survey start identifier may be a player tracking number identified when the player tracking card is read through a slot machine, and the player tracking number is identified by the slot game server as the survey start identifier. Before starting any betting, the survey mode can be presented on the display of the slot machine. Once the survey is completed, the coin-operated game server signals the coin-operated game machine to exit the survey mode and enter the normal game betting mode of the coin-operated game machine.

For example, a player trying to redeem a coupon can be immediately asked a set of survey questions, and the player responds to the questions to obtain a flat fee game stage as compensation for the player's participation in a marketing event. Further investigation questions can be asked during the uniform fee game stage. In order for the player to continue the uniform fee game stage, answers to the questions are necessary. The flat fee game phase can be designed to last several days, allowing the company to obtain player data for the duration of the entire guest stay.

Summary of results In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention may include an additional step of summarizing survey answers before presenting the answers to the merchant. For example, multiple positive answers such as "I prefer X brand laundry detergent" or "X brand laundry detergent is the best for stain removal" can be grouped into aggregate results or statistical values, such as "78% preference X Brand laundry detergent". In an exemplary embodiment, then, instead of sending multiple individual responses, the statistical value is transmitted to the merchant.

In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention may include the additional step of receiving compensation from the merchant in return for conducting a survey.

200780001931. 1 Step. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, in addition to rewarding the player, the casino or service provider that owns the coin-operated game server 104 may be compensated. Such compensation may be in the form of fee per question, fee per respondent, fee per survey, monthly fixed payment, and so on.

Insurance Promises In an exemplary embodiment, the merchant may want to promise non-deterministic compensation to the player, but may not want to take on the risks associated with such promises. For example, the merchant may want to double the highest reward payment. However, if the player wins one million jackpots, the merchant may not want to spend another one million dollars. Therefore, the merchant can pay, for example, a fixed amount of money to the casino through the coin-operated game server 104, so that the casino bears the burden of doubling the highest reward payment. The fixed amount can be determined by calculating the additional reward expected by the player from the doubled reward table. In another embodiment, the merchant can make a payment to the insurance provider to bear the risk of doubling the highest reward payment.

Player information and tracking card In an exemplary embodiment, the player tracking card may act as a frequent shopper card. Therefore, any information contained in the player tracking card can also be used to identify players who are desirable for a particular survey, which player tracking card is used for their frequent shopper card capabilities (e.g., when determining the groceries bought by the player) ). This same information can be used to weight specific answers. For example, a player who buys dog food may have more weight for a merchant when it comes to dog issues. In an exemplary embodiment employing a point-of-sale (POS) terminal, frequent shopper cards can serve as the main method for obtaining player information for surveys.

In an exemplary embodiment, the slot machine 102 may request player information before asking survey questions.

In an exemplary embodiment, the player can make a payment to increase the balance on the casino's stored value card. In an exemplary embodiment, this can provide the merchant with more information about the player's financial status.

Obtaining the players consent to accept the survey. In an exemplary embodiment, if the slot machine 102 has asked the player if the player is willing to participate in the survey, and the player has declined, the negotiation process can be started, during which the slot machine 102 Attempt to attract players to change their attention and participate. In one embodiment, the slot machine 102 repeatedly displays the promise of compensation until the player agrees to accept the compensation in exchange for participating in the survey. In an exemplary embodiment, the slot machine 102 may store a rule database based on player information and game history, survey requirements, the possibility of finding other qualified players, the profit margin of the survey, and the players previous Other promises accepted or rejected, etc. indicate what promises are shown. In an exemplary embodiment, once the player has declined a certain number of times, a new promise is avoided.

In another exemplary embodiment, instead of presenting a specific promise, the slot machine 102 may provide the player with a means to indicate the appropriate promise. For example, the slot machine 102 may allow players to receive cash and receive free game play.

200780001931. 1 Choose between. If the player chooses to play the game for free, the slot machine 102 may ask the player how many times to play the game for free, or may start to make a promise to play the game for free a certain number of times.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the player may have the opportunity to specify the desired reward, after which the slot machine 102 may notify the player what he must do in return. The player can then either accept the promise or modify his desired reward, after which the process can be repeated.

Portable Communication Device Turning to Figure 15, the high-level block diagram 1500 is shown as having a Portable Communication Device (PCD) 1512 in the network 1506. The PCD 1512 can be used to help implement various implementations of the survey process and get feedback from guests . The portable communication device (PCD) 1512 exchanges data via the communication network 1506 to the game company coin-operated game server 1504 through the player interface. The portable communication device 1512 can also directly communicate with the coin-operated game machine 1502. Communication information from the PCD 1512 can then be routed through the slot machine 1502 to allow communication with the slot machine 1504. PCD 1512 may also have the ability to establish wireless communication and use wireless communication protocols such as Bluetooth to identify company employees who are in close proximity to guests.

The player interface associated with PCD 1512 may have a keyboard and/or video display and touch screen to enable the player to read questions and answer. The device may also be able to provide advertisements or other marketing events on the video display. In addition, in some embodiments, the PCD 1512 may have a locator device such as RFID or GPS to allow gaming companies to track the location of guests.

The PCD 1512 can be assigned to a specific guest and has a unique identification number (such as a player tracking number). The PCD 1512 may be a cellular phone, a handheld personal computer, a pager, a portable gaming device (for betting), or other similar electronic equipment suitably modified to communicate with a gaming company's coin-operated game server. In the case where the PCD is a cellular phone, voice communication between the guest and the casino staff is possible.

In addition to or instead of directing to slot machine 1502, survey questions can be directed to the player's PCDo. This particular embodiment is particularly suitable for players who participate in table games rather than slot machine betting. However, PCD1512 is also very valuable for use with any type of company (gaming company or others, including hotels, theme parks, conference centers, etc.) to allow guests to identify specific problems, purchase additional services, or to The company provides feedback. Specifically, this embodiment allows guests to immediately report any dissatisfaction regardless of the player's location in the company. For example, if a guest notices a potentially dangerous situation, the guest can report the situation at PCD±.

For ease of use, the PCD can have a button panel with dedicated buttons to facilitate reporting. For example, the button can be dedicated to reporting security considerations. Another button can be a "panic" button, which the guest can activate to report a personal safety issue. Another button can be dedicated to accessing the "suggestion box". The "Opinion" button allows guests to access a document that collects and stores reviews from guests about areas where the company can improve performance and service to guests.

200780001931. 1 First, although data can be input to the PCD through the touch screen or keyboard, the PCD can also have voice recording capabilities and relay to the coin-operated game server for storage (such as voice mail). The PCD can also have video or static cameras to relay images to coin-operated game servers for improved identification and reporting problems to the game company management.

For example, if a guest is in a gaming company hotel and wants to report an unsatisfactory experience, the guest presses the players PCD 1512± button to start reporting the event. The PCD 1512 transmits a signal to start communicating with the coin-operated game server 1504, and then the coin The modular game server 1504 correlates the player's position with the nearest line to help establish a series of questions to elicit an understanding of the problem.

In addition to reporting problems, PCD 1512 can also be used to request additional goods or services directly from gaming companies. For example, PCD can be used to allow players to order drinks. The player starts communicating, formulating the request, and the slot machine server 1504 in communication with the PCD transmits the appropriate message to the person who can implement the request. In this case, the message is sent to the bar for the delivery of drinks. In addition, a message can be generated to charge the drink cost to the player's account. In one embodiment, the PCD 1512 has a locator device (such as an RFID locator) that allows the waitress to locate the player and deliver the beverage.

Conclusion Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that the embodiments are presented by way of example only and without limitation. Therefore, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments, but should only be defined according to the appended claims and their equivalents. For example, although the above discussion has used survey questions to exemplify the above processing, it should be understood that any marketing events, advertisements, or marketing promises that are surveyed can be applied to this concept, which is adapted to maximize their Satisfaction of the game company. In addition, although the term player is used as a reference, in some embodiments, the player may also mean a guest or an individual. Likewise, in some embodiments, individuals or guests may also be players. In addition, although the game company is used as a reference, the specific company can also be applied to any company open to the public.

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