National customer recognition system and method

Patent 5761647 Issued on June 2, 1998. Estimated Expiration Date:

May 24, 2016. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

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Inventor

Boushy, John Michael

Assignee

Harrah's Operating Company, Inc.

Application

No. 653436 filed on 05/24/1996

US Classes:

705/10, Market analysis, demand forecasting or surveying463/25, Credit/debit monitoring or manipulation (e.g., game entry, betting, prize level, etc.)463/29Access or authorization (e.g., game selection, security, etc.)

Examiners

Primary: Cosimano, Edward R.
Assistant: Oh, Junghoon Kenneth

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Fenwick & West LLP

International Class

G06F 017/60

Abstract

A system and method for implementing a customer tracking and recognition program that encompasses customers' gaming and non-gaming activity alike at a plurality of affiliated casino properties. Customer information is accumulated at each affiliated casino through one or more LAN-based management systems, updated to a central patron database (CPDB) that is coupled to each casino LAN through a WAN, and made available to each affiliated casino property as needed. Customer accounts are automatically activated and provided with data from the CPDB when a customer from one casino property first visits an affiliated casino property. Customer accounts are updated with new activity data whenever a management system associated with the casino receives customer data from input devices, such as card readers, workstations, and dumb terminals, located at various venues throughout the casino. Customers are awarded points, based on their tracked activity at all affiliated casino properties. The point awards have a monetary value and are redeemable for gifts, meals, cash and the like, at any of the casino properties. The point awards may embody different promotional schemes in which point awards are adjusted to target different casino properties or different venues within a casino. Summary customer data, including point levels, is regularly updated to reflect ongoing customer activity at the casino property. This data is made available to employees at any affiliated casino property, as needed, to personalize customer services.