Method and apparatus for offering a mobile device version of an electronic gaming machine game at the electronic gaming machine

• US 10,529,175 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2017
• Issued: 01/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nelson, Dwayne R., LeMay, Steven G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deodhar, Omkar A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Wei
• Application Number:
  US15/856,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20180137717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 463 25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users

Abstract

A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. When a Player surpasses predetermined game play parameters on a game of an EGM, a bonus game or related game material may be “unlocked” and offered to the Player for download onto the Player'"'"'s Portable Electronic Device (PED). Upon installation, the game or content may be viewed or played on their PED at a later time and at their leisure.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a display device;

a wireless communication interface;

a lightable bezel;

a processor; and

a memory device that stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

responsive to receiving, from a mobile device and via the wireless communication interface, a request to communicate;

establish wireless communication with the mobile device via the wireless communication interface, and

responsive to the establishment of the wireless communication with the mobile device and separate from any display, by the display device, of any information indicating that the gaming machine and the mobile device are in wireless communication, cause the lightable bezel to light up to indicate that the gaming machine and the mobile device are in wireless communication; and

responsive to receiving a placement of a wager, cause the display device to display a play of a wagering game.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor responsive to the establishment of the wireless communication with the mobile device, the instructions cause the processor to cause the display device to display an icon to indicate that the gaming machine and the mobile device are in wireless communication.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor responsive to receipt, via an input device, of a designated input while wireless communication is established with the mobile device, the instructions cause the processor to cause an output device to output an indication.

4. The gaming machine of claim 3, wherein the output device comprises a speaker and the output of the indication comprises causing the speaker to produce a sound.

5. The gaming machine of claim 3, wherein the output device comprises the display device and the output of the indication comprises causing the display device to display an image.

6. The gaming machine of claim 3, wherein the designated input comprises a cashout input.

7. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising a housing comprising a mobile device receptacle sized to receive the mobile device.

8. The gaming machine of claim 7, further comprising a sensor communicatively connected to the processor, the sensor located adjacent to the mobile device receptacle and configured to:

(1) detect when the mobile device is inserted into the mobile device receptacle, and (2) send a corresponding signal to the processor.

9. The gaming machine of claim 8, wherein the sensor comprises a weight sensor.

10. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication is one selected from the group consisting of:

Bluetooth, near-field communication, and Wi-Fi.

11. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to operate with the wireless communication interface to establish communication with the mobile device in part by securely pairing with the mobile device.

12. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to operate with the wireless communication interface to encrypt communications from the gaming machine to the mobile device.

13. A method of operating a gaming machine, the method comprising:

responsive to receiving, from a mobile device and via a wireless communication interface, a request to communicate;

establishing wireless communication with the mobile device via the wireless communication interface, and

responsive to the establishment of the wireless communication with the mobile device and separate from any display, by a display device, of any information indicating that the gaming machine and the mobile device are in wireless communication, causing, by a processor, a lightable bezel of the gaming machine to light up to indicate that the gaming machine and the mobile device are in wireless communication; and

responsive to receiving a placement of a wager, displaying, by the display device, a play of a wagering game.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising, responsive to the establishment of the wireless communication with the mobile device, displaying, by the display device, an icon to indicate that the gaming machine and the mobile device are in wireless communication.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising, responsive to receipt, via an input device, of a designated input while wireless communication is established with the mobile device, outputting, by an output device, an indication.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the output of the indication comprises producing, by a speaker, a sound.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the output of the indication comprises displaying, by the display device, an image.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the designated input comprises a cashout input.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving a signal from a sensor located adjacent to a mobile device receptacle that indicates when the mobile device is inserted into the mobile device receptacle.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the sensor comprises a weight sensor.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising establishing wireless communication with the mobile device in part by securely pairing with the mobile device.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising encrypting, by the processor, communications from the gaming machine to the mobile device.