LOYALTY APPLICATION FOR MOBILE DEVICES

The method comprises providing a system comprising a server, a network, a controller, and one or more scanner devices, the server being communicatively linked to the network and the controller, the one or more scanner devices being adapted to receive identification data communicated by an identifier device such as an RFID device. The system is adapted to maintain player account data and scanner device data. The player account data comprises a player account. The scanner device data comprises data associated with the one or more scanner devices. The player account is associated with the identifier device. A player account award credit is generating when at least one of the one or more scanner devices receives the identification data communicated by the identifier device. The award credit is displayed on the mobile device. Group credits are generated when group members earn award credits.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to software for use in mobile devices such as smartphones.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Amusement parks and family entertainment centers provide attractions to customers to enjoy. These venues can be either outdoor or indoor. One type of indoor park includes trampolines, climbing walls, obstacle courses, balance beams, ball pits, etc.

While the attractions themselves are fun and enjoyable. park operators continue to evolve the nature of the entertainment provided. This includes providing new attractions. This also includes providing competitive features to the attractions. Many of the attractions involve a single user, or involve users acting independently of one another. These make it difficult for users to compete.

It is desired to increase or provide competitive features to attractions in amusement parks and entertainment centers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The loyalty application is used when the player, or user, visits an amusement park or other entertainment venue, which park is equipped with a suitable system. The player participates in various activities and attractions in the park. At least some of these activities yield awards to the player. The loyalty application allows the player to monitor the accumulated awards and also allows the player to redeem the awards for goods or services. The goods or services can be collected by the player in the park.

The loyalty application is used on a mobile device, such as a smartphone. The mobile device is possessed by a user. The loyalty application is used with an identification device, such as an RFID device. Such an RFID can be worn by the player, such as on a wristband.

The loyalty application allows players to share awards. For example, members of a family or other group may wish to share awards. Players can monitor the awards earned by the group and redeem those group awards. During the redemption process, available promotions can be used.

The loyalty application may be used in an amusement park or entertainment venue. The park can be indoors or outdoors. The park is a venue for entertainment activities. Such activities can involve physical play or can be games with little physical involvement. The park has a registration, or reception, desk near an entry or gate. A player, or customer, enters the park and goes to the reception area to purchase tickets, access passes, RFID devices, etc. The RFID device has a unique identifier. The player registers the player's RFID device, wherein the system establishes an account for the player, matches the identifier to the player, and obtains other information about the player for the account such as payment information, etc. The account also contains information on shared awards. The player is able to be part of a group of plural players. Each player is identified by an RFID device and identifier. Awards earned by any one player in the group can be shared among the group. The reception desk also serves to store the various prizes that players can acquire by earning and redeeming awards.

The park has a snack bar. Customers can purchase food and beverages at the snack bar. Purchases can be made in money or in redeemed awards.

The park has various attractions, or activities, such as trampolines, obstacle courses, climbing walls, etc. One attraction is a scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt has scanner devices located throughout the park. A user, or player, hunts for and locates a scanner device, scans the RFID device, receives awards, and moves on to hunt for another scanner device. Locating a scanner device can be as simple as spotting one along a walkway, or as difficult as climbing a tall wall using handholds.

Another attraction is a video production area. A camera is provided. A user interface and RFID scanner are also provided. The player scans the RFID device with the scanner, interacts with the user interface to select a particular video to be made, then stands in the area in front of the camera. The camera turns on and records the user. The user interface includes a screen monitor to allow the player to view what is being recorded. The area can be provided with various backdrops. One general backdrop is a green screen, which allows images, or special effects, to be added by the system to the video.

Another attraction is an arena. Players enter the arena and interact therewith. Images can be projected onto the walls and a user can throw an object, such as a ball, onto the images. Participation can result in awards to the players.

The above are example attractions. The park can have other attractions, which may involve physical activities, such as jumping, climbing, balancing, etc., or may involve other activities.

The system has a server that is connected to a network. The server can be located at the park or in another location. The network is connected to various devices throughout the park. For a first attraction, namely the scavenger hunt, there are a number of the RFID scanner devices located throughout the park. For a second attraction, namely the video production area, the video production equipment, namely camera. RFID scanner and user interface, are provided. The equipment for other attractions, such as the arena, is provided as well, connected to the server over the network. The server is connected over the network to a controller, which controller can be located at the park or in another location. The controller can be application software on a mobile device such as a smartphone, tablet, etc.

The server is also connected, by way of the network, to plural player devices. Such player devices are, in the preferred embodiment, mobile phones and smartphones. Thus, a player can access the system while at the park. A player device can also be a desk computer, wherein the player can access the system from a home, etc. located outside of the park. In addition, the server is connected to one or more leaderboards located in the park. The leaderboards are large displays, typically elevated above the floor to allow viewing from many areas of the park.

The server has a network adapter, as does each component connected to the network such as the scanners, the video production equipment, the equipment for other attractions, the controller, the mobile devices and the leaderboards.

In the method of a preferred embodiment, a player acquires awards. The player engages in an activity that allows awards. step. Such an activity typically involves the player playing on or using the attraction. For example, for the scavenger hunt game, the player hunts the scanner devices throughout the park and scans the player's RFID device. Part of the activity is finding the scanner devices. Another part of the activity is reaching the scanner devices and locating the RFID devices adjacent thereto for scanning. To reach some of the scanner devices, the player may need to climb, balance on a beam or other object, traverse an elevated course, etc. As another example, to produce a video, a player scans in the player's RFID device at the scanner in the video area, selects from a library of available backdrops or video interactions, and steps in front of the camera. As the camera records, the player of course need not stay stationary, but can move and interact. For example, the equipment may provide a visual backdrop on the video, such as a surfing wave, wherein the player may wish to pantomime riding a surfboard. The player can view the video, with the surfing wave, in real time on a display. As another example, a player can share the completed video with others. Sharing can be on social media, such as with a collection of friends. Sharing can also be by emails or messaging with select individuals.

The method then determines if the player has finished the required activity. For the scavenger hunt, this is a successful scan of the RFID device. For the video production, this is a completed video. For sharing a video, this is the actual sharing to a common platform, such as a social media, or to a private recipient. All of these actions result in a notification sent to the server by the respective equipment. The notification provides the player's information. For example, in the case of a scanned RFID device, the identification from the RFID device is included.

The player's identification from the attraction is matched to the player and the player's account. In addition, the amount of awards earned by the player, if any, is determined. Various predetermined factors can be used to determine the amount of awards, such as time of day, particular attraction or activity the player engaged in, level of difficulty. Also, various rules may be applied to determine rewards. For example, when playing the scavenger hunt, a player may be unable to rescan plural times the same scanner in a predetermined period of time, so as to encourage players to hunt for other scanners. The awards earned by the player are stored in a database, namely in the player's account.

In addition, the method determines the shared awards of the player. The group that the player belongs to is identified and the awards accumulated by the group are added to or updated in the player's account. Shared awards allow a parent or guardian to monitor and redeem awards on behalf of several young players. Such young players may not have a mobile device themselves and may need to rely on the mobile device of the parent.

The player is allowed to view the player's account by way of a player device. The method also determines who the leaders are among active playing players in the park and displays a ranking on the leaderboard. This allows players in the park to compete against one another.

A method for allowing a player, or parent, to monitor awards and redeem rewards is also provided. A player uses the loyalty application on the mobile device. The player monitors the awards earned. The player can monitor how the awards were earned, whether from making videos, or playing games, such as the scavenger hunt, etc. The player can also monitor how many times items, such as videos, were shared by the player to another player or platform (such as social media). The player can monitor the awards earned by the player individually and by the player's group.

Occasionally, promotions may be made available to player. A promotion may be a discount for park tickets, or access to certain attractions (some attractions may have a higher price level to access). Promotions may apply to certain times of the day, certain days of the week. Available promotions are shown to the player.

The player can simply monitor the personal and group awards and promotions. Metering indicia can be provided to show a player how much in the way of awards has been earned and how much remains to earn in order to redeem for a good or service. For example, a circle can be displayed to the player. If the player has accumulated 50% towards redemption of an item, then 50% of the circumference can be bolded or colored in a graphical display.

The player can view the goods and services, that is the prizes that are available for redemption. For example, a free ride on an attraction, a toy, food, a T-shirt can be prizes. Each prize is priced in the amount of awards needed to redeem. Some prizes may cost more awards than other prizes. The player selects the particular prize to be redeemed. The player also selects any promotions. The player then redeems the awards and promotions. The redeemed promotion is applied to the player's account and the awards in the player's account are debited. A proof of redemption is provided to the player's mobile device. For example, a redemption code can be provided.

The player goes to the reception desk and provides the redemption code in order to receive the prize.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The loyalty application is used when the player, or user, visits an amusement park or other entertainment venue, which park is equipped with a suitable system11. The player participates in various activities and attractions in the park. At least some of these activities yield awards to the player. The loyalty application allows the player to monitor the accumulated awards42and also allows the player to redeem the awards42for goods or services. The goods or services can be collected by the player in the park.

The loyalty application is used on a mobile device, such as a smartphone. The mobile device is possessed by a user. The loyalty application is used with an identification device10, such as an RFID device10. Such an RFID10can be worn by the player, such as on a wristband.

The loyalty application allows players to share awards42. For example, members of a family or other group may wish to share awards42. Players can monitor the awards42earned by the group and redeem those group awards. During the redemption process, available promotions can be used.

FIG. 1illustrates an amusement park11, or entertainment venue. The park can be indoors or outdoors. The park is a venue for entertainment activities. Such activities can involve physical play or can be games with little physical involvement. The park has a registration, or reception, desk13near an entry or gate. A player, or customer, enters the park and goes to the reception area to purchase tickets, access passes, RFID devices10, etc. The RFID device10has a unique identifier. The player registers the player's RFID device10, wherein the system11establishes an account36for the player, matches the identifier to the player, and obtains other information about the player for the account36such as payment information, etc. The account36also contains information on shared awards42. The player is able to be part of a group of plural players. Each player is identified by an RFID device10and identifier. Awards42earned by any one player in the group can be shared among the group. The reception desk13also serves to store the various prizes14that players can acquire by earning and redeeming awards42.

The park has a snack bar16. Customers can purchase food and beverages at the snack bar. Purchases can be made in money or in redeemed awards42.

The park has various attractions15, or activities, such as trampolines, obstacle courses. climbing wails, etc. One attraction is a scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt has scanner devices17located throughout the park. A user, or player, hunts for and locates a scanner device17, scans the RFID device10, receives awards42, and moves on to hunt for another scanner device. Locating a scanner device17can be as simple as spotting one along a walkway, or as difficult as climbing a tall wall using handholds.

Another attraction is a video production area19. A camera21is provided. A user interface and RFID scanner23are also provided. The player scans the RFID device10with the scanner, interacts with the user interface to select a particular video to be made, then stands in the area25in front of the camera. The camera turns on and records the user. The user interface includes a screen monitor to allow the player to view what is being recorded. The area can be provided with various backdrops. One general backdrop is a green screen, which allows images, or special effects, to be added by the system11to the video.

Another attraction is an arena27. Players enter the arena and interact therewith. Images can be projected onto the walls29and a user can throw an object, such as a ball31, onto the images. Participation can result in awards42(award credit42) to the players.

The above are example attractions. The park can have other attractions, which may involve physical activities, such as jumping, climbing, balancing, etc., or may involve other activities.

FIG. 2shows the system11for use with the loyalty application. The system11has a server33that is connected to a network35. The server33can be located at the park11or in another location. The server33is adapted to be communicatively linked to a database34. The database34can be integral to the server33or accessed remotely by the server33. In preferred embodiments, the database34comprises player account data36, scanner device data38, and group account data40. The network35is connected to various devices throughout the park. For a first attraction, namely the scavenger hunt, there are a number of the RFID scanner devices17located throughout the park. For a second attraction, namely the video production area, the video production equipment37, namely camera. RFID scanner and user interface, are provided. The equipment for other attractions15, such as the arena27, is provided as well, connected to the server over the network. The server33is connected over the network35to a controller39, which controller can be located at the park or in another location. The controller39can be application software on a mobile device such as a smartphone, tablet, etc.

The server33is also connected, by way of the network35, to plural player devices41. Such player devices41are, in the preferred embodiment, mobile phones and smartphones. Thus, a player can access the system11while at the park11. A player device can also be a desk computer, wherein the player can access the system11from a home, etc. located outside of the park In addition, the server33is connected to one or more leaderboards43located in the park. The leaderboards43(seeFIG. 1) are large displays, typically elevated above the floor to allow viewing from many areas of the park11.

The server33has a network adapter, as does each component connected to the network such as the scanner devices17, the video production equipment37, the equipment for other attractions, the controller39, the mobile devices41and the leaderboards43.

FIG. 3illustrates the method of a player acquiring awards42. The player engages in an activity that allows awards42, step51. Such an activity typically involves the player playing on or using the attraction. For example, for the scavenger hunt game, the player hunts the scanner devices17throughout the park and scans the player's RFID device10. Part of the activity is finding the scanner devices. Another part of the activity is reaching the scanner devices17and locating the RFID devices10adjacent thereto for scanning. To reach some of the scanner devices, the player may need to climb, balance on a beam or other object, traverse an elevated course, etc. As another example, to produce a video, a player scans in the player's RFID device10at the scanner in the video area19, selects from a library of available backdrops or video interactions, and steps in front of the camera. As the camera records, the player of course need not stay stationary, but can move and interact. For example, the equipment may provide a visual backdrop on the video, such as a surfing wave, wherein the player may wish to pantomime riding a surfboard. The player can view the video, with the surfing wave, in real time on a display. As another example, a player can share the completed video with others. Sharing can be on social media, such as with a collection of friends. Sharing can also be by entails or messaging with select individuals.

The method then determines if the player has finished the required activity, step53. For the scavenger hunt, this is a successful scan of the RFID device10. For the video production, this is a completed video. For sharing a video, this is the actual sharing to a common platform, such as a social media, or to a private recipient. All of these actions result in a notification sent to the server by the respective equipment. The notification provides the player's information. For example, in the case of a scanned RFID device10, the identification from the RFID device10is included.

In step55, the player's identification from the attraction is matched to the player and the player's account. In addition, the amount of awards earned by the player, if any, is determined. Various predetermined factors can be used to determine the amount of awards, such as time of day, particular attraction or activity the player engaged in, level of difficulty. Also, various rules may be applied to determine rewards. For example, when playing the scavenger hunt, a player may be unable to rescan plural times the same scanner in a predetermined period of time, so as to encourage players to hunt for other scanners. The awards42earned by the player are stored in a database36, namely in the player's account36, step57.

In addition, the method determines the shared awards42of the player, step59. The group40that the player belongs to is identified and the awards42accumulated by the group40are added to or updated in the player's account36. Shared awards42allow a parent or guardian to monitor and redeem awards42on behalf of several young players. Such young players may not have a mobile device41themselves and may need to rely on the mobile device of the parent.

The player is allowed to view the player's account36, step61, by way of a player device41. The method also determines who the leaders are among active playing players in the park, and displays a ranking on the leaderboard53, step63. This allows players in the park to compete against one another.

FIG. 4shows the method for allowing a player, or parent, to monitor awards42and redeem rewards. A player uses the loyalty application on the mobile device41. The player monitors the awards42earned, step71. The player can monitor how the awards42were earned, whether from making videos, or playing games, such as the scavenger hunt, etc. The player can also monitor how many times items, such as videos, were shared by the player to another player or platform (such as social media). The player can monitor the awards42earned by the player individually and by the player's group.

Occasionally, promotions may be made available to player. A promotion may be a discount for park tickets, or access to certain attractions (some attractions may have a higher price level to access). Promotions may apply to certain times of the day, certain days of the week. In step73, available promotions are shown to the player.

The player can simply monitor the personal and group awards42and promotions. Metering indicia can be provided to show a player how much in the way of awards42has been earned and how much remains to earn in order to redeem for a good or service. For example, a circle can be displayed to the player. If the player has accumulated 50% towards redemption of an item, then 50% of the circumference can be bolded or colored in a graphical display.

The player can view the goods and services, that is the prizes14, that are available for redemption. For example, a free ride on an attraction, a toy, food, a T-shirt can be prizes. Each prize is priced in the amount of awards42needed to redeem. Some prizes may cost more awards42than other prizes. In step75, the player selects the particular prize to be redeemed. The player also selects any promotions. The player then redeems the awards42and promotions. The redeemed promotion is applied to the player's account, step77and the awards42in the player's account are debited, step79. A proof of redemption is provided to the player's mobile device, step81. For example, a redemption code can be provided.

The player goes to the reception desk and provides the redemption, code in order to receive the prize.

The foregoing disclosure and showings made in the drawings are merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and are not to be interpreted in a limiting sense.