Method and apparatus for generating a virtual win

• US 10,032,341 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2016
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acres Technology
• Original Assignee: Patent Investment & Licensing Company
• Inventors: Acres, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Khiem D
• Application Number:
  US15/297,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20170039816A1
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and apparatus for operating a gaming device having at least one winning event and at least one related award that is generated according to a set of rules associated with the game. The game is driven to present a predefined winning outcome and an award is generated as if the winning event and award were generated according to the rules. Also provided are rules and/or conditions for determining when to generate the predefined wining event, including rules that take into account player value to the casino and game volatility preference.

Claims

1. A method for operating an electronic gaming device having a plurality of game outcome events including at least one game winning event comprising a first predetermined combination of symbols generated by a random process implemented via computer processor and at least one related award that is generated according to a pay table stored in a memory associated with the gaming device and shown on an award display when so awarded and at least one game losing event comprising a second predetermined combination of symbols generated by the random process, the method comprising:

receiving a play actuation input;

generating a game outcome event via the random process;

determining a bonus award;

if the bonus award is less than the award associated with the generated game outcome event, displaying the predetermined combination of symbols associated with the generated game outcome event; and

if the bonus award is greater than the award associated with the generated game outcome event;

notifying the player of eligibility for a bonus;

if the player generates an input via an actuator associated with the gaming device within a predefined time, driving the gaming device to generate the first predetermined combination of symbols regardless of the random process;

displaying the generated first predetermined combination of symbols on a display associated with the gaming device; and

displaying the award associated with the first predetermined combination of symbols in the pay table.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a second play actuation input; and

determining whether the player is eligible to receive a bonus award responsive to receipt of the second play actuation input;

if the player is not eligible;

generating one of a game winning event and a game losing event by the random process;

generating an award, if any, associated with the event generated by the random process;

displaying the generated event on a display associated with the gaming device; and

displaying the award, if any, associated in the pay table with the predetermined combination of symbols so generated.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

establishing at least one criterion related to the frequency of occurrence of winning events generated by the random process on the electronic gaming device;

tracking the level of play on the gaming device;

determining the deviation of the frequency of occurrence of winning events in the tracked level of play from the established criterion; and

determining that the player is eligible to receive a bonus as a function of the determined deviation.

4. A method for operating an electronic gaming device having a plurality of game outcome events including at least one game winning event comprising a first predetermined combination of symbols generated by a random process implemented via computer processor and at least one related award that is generated according to a pay table stored in a memory associated with the gaming device and shown on an award display when so awarded and at least one game losing event comprising a second predetermined combination of symbols generated by the random process, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of play actuation inputs;

generating a game outcome event for each play actuation input via the random process;

determining a bonus award associated with one of the play actuation inputs;

if the bonus award is less than the award associated with the generated game outcome for the one play actuation input, displaying the predetermined combination of symbols associated with the game outcome event; and

if the bonus award is greater than the award associated with the generated game outcome for the one play actuation input;

generating a win notification that informs the player of a potential bonus; and

if the player generates an input to the electronic gaming device responsive to the win notification, driving the gaming device to generate the first predetermined combination of symbols regardless of the random process and generating an award.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the generated award is the award that is associated with the first predetermined combination of symbols in the pay table.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein if the player does not generate an input to the electronic gaming device responsive to the win notification, generating an award, if any, associated with the generated game outcome for the one play actuation input.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

establishing at least one criterion related to the frequency of occurrence of winning events generated by the random process on the electronic gaming device;

tracking the level of play on the gaming device;

determining the deviation of the frequency of occurrence of winning events in the tracked level of play from the established criterion; and

determining that the player is eligible to receive a bonus as a function of the determined deviation.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein if the player does not generate an input to the electronic gaming device responsive to the win notification further comprises not generating the input within a predefined time.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the predefined time is 10 seconds.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein if the player generates an input to the electronic gaming device responsive to the win notification further comprises generating the input within a predefined time.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the predefined time is 10 seconds.

12. A method for operating an electronic gaming device having a plurality of game outcome events including at least one game winning event comprising a first predetermined combination of symbols generated by a random process implemented via computer processor and at least one related award that is generated according to a pay table stored in a memory associated with the gaming device and shown on an award display when so awarded and at least one game losing event comprising a second predetermined combination of symbols generated by the random process, the method comprising:

receiving a first play actuation input;

generating one of a game winning event and a game losing event by the random process, and generating an award, if any, associated with the event generated by the random process;

displaying the generated event on a display associated with the gaming device;

receiving a second play actuation input;

responsive to the second play actuation input;

if a bonus award is greater than the award associated with the predetermined combination of symbols generated by the second play actuation input;

notifying the player of eligibility for a bonus; and

if the player generates an input via an actuator associated with the gaming device, driving the gaming device to generate the first predetermined combination of symbols regardless of the random process, and generating an award.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein driving the gaming device to generate the first predetermined combination of symbols regardless of the random process, and generating an award further comprises generating the award associated with the first predetermined combination of symbols in the pay table.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein if the player generates an input via an actuator associated with the gaming device further comprises generating the input within a predefined time.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the predefined time is 10 seconds.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein if the player does not generate an input to the electronic gaming device responsive to the win notification, generating an award, if any, associated with the event generated by the random process responsive to the second play actuation input.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein if the player does not generate an input to the electronic gaming device responsive to the win notification comprises generating the input within a predefined time.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the predefined time is 10 seconds.

19. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

establishing at least one criterion related to the frequency of occurrence of winning events generated by the random process on the electronic gaming device;

tracking the level of play on the gaming device;

determining the deviation of the frequency of occurrence of winning events in the tracked level of play from the established criterion; and

determining that the player is eligible to receive a bonus as a function of the determined deviation.