Abstract: Exemplary systems and methods allow a patron to play games from an off-site location via an online network. For example, a server may receive, from a client terminal, a purchase request for a plurality of wagers from a patron before a game play has begun. The server may determine the results of the plurality of wagers and store the results in a database before the game play has begun. Then, the server may adjust an account of the player based on the results before the game play has begun, and send the results to the client terminal before the game play has begun, in response to a request to reveal the results. Additionally, exemplary systems and methods allow a patron to play games using variable pay tables based on denomination amounts, number of wagers, amounts of previous wagers. Such systems and methods may, for example, establish a plurality of denomination levels and corresponding pay tables such that odds of winning increase as the denomination value increases.

Abstract: A distributed sensor network is provided that comprises an existing electrical system infrastructure having a plurality of nodes and providing a source of power; and a plurality of sensors. Each sensor is associated with one of the nodes in the infrastructure. In addition, each sensor obtains power from the source of power and generates sensor information regarding one or more sensed conditions that are independent of the existing electrical system infrastructure. Among other alternatives, existing electrical system infrastructure can also be used to provide a communication connection between each of the plurality of nodes and at least one central node.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for tracking customer purchases using a unique anonymous identifier. Customer purchases are monitored by obtaining a unique anonymous identifier from the customer as part of a current transaction; and associating the current transaction with a prior transaction using the unique anonymous identifier. The unique anonymous identifier can be, for example, a purchase identifier associated with the prior transaction, and provides a link among a plurality of transactions associated with the customer. The current or prior transaction (or both) can optionally be clustered with one or more transactions associated with registered users having known demographics to obtain demographic information for at least one of the current and prior transactions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for tracking customer transactions using a Unique Loyalty Code. One or more transactions of a user are monitored by providing a unique loyalty code with a sale of a product, wherein the unique loyalty code uniquely identifies each individual instance of the product. The unique loyalty code is then received from the user as part of a product registration process, wherein the product registration process does not require personal information of the user. The unique loyalty code is recorded in an account anonymously associated with the user. The disclosed unique loyalty codes can be used to monitor the recycling of products.

Abstract: A system, method, and article of manufacture for locating or communicating with a patron at a hospitality facility includes a server and a plurality of client terminals. The server may receive, from one of the plurality of client terminals, a patron identifier identifying a patron and a location identifier identifying a location in the hospitality facility and storing the location identifier in an account corresponding to the patron identified by the patron identifier. A patron, using a client terminal may send a request for the location of a particular patron to the server. The server retrieves, from an account corresponding to the particular patron, a location identifier for the particular patron and sends a message based on the location identifier for the particular patron.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention allow a patron to play games from an off-site location via an online network. For example, a server may receive, from a first client terminal, a purchase request for at least one wager. The server may determine the results of the at least one wager and store the results of the at least one wager in a database. Then, the server may receive, from a second client terminal, a request to reveal the results of the at least one wager, for example, via an online network, and send the results of the at least one wager to the second client terminal.