Gaming apparatus with an optical wireless system

• US 20030190958A1
• Filed: 04/08/2002
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Paulsen, Craig A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,867,092 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played

Abstract

A casino gaming unit may include a display unit that is capable of generating video images, a value input device, a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to the display unit and the value input device, an optical communication transceiver capable of wireless data transmission and reception, and an optical communication controller coupled to the optical communication transceiver and the gaming unit controller. The gaming unit controller may comprise a processor and a memory and may allow a person to make a wager, to cause a video image representing a game to be generated on the display unit, to determine an outcome of the game, and a value payout associated with the outcome of the game. The optical communication controller may facilitate wireless data communication with an optical communication transceivers of one or more devices at locations remote from the gaming unit.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a first gaming unit comprising;

a display unit that is capable of generating video images;

a value input device;

a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said gaming unit controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,

said gaming unit controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,

said gaming unit controller of being programmed to cause a video image to be generated on said display unit, said video image representing a game, and

said gaming unit controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game represented by said video image;

an optical communication transceiver capable of wireless data transmission and reception;

an optical communication controller coupled to said optical communication transceiver of said first gaming unit and said gaming unit controller of said first gaming unit, said optical communication controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said optical communication controller of said first gaming unit;

a second gaming unit comprising;

a display unit that is capable of generating video images;

a value input device;

a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to said display unit of said second gaming unit and said value input device of said second gaming unit, said gaming unit controller of said second gaming unit comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said second gaming unit,

said gaming unit controller of said second gaming unit being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,

said gaming unit controller of said second gaming unit being programmed to cause a video image to be generated on said display unit of said second gaming unit, said video image representing a game, and

said gaming unit controller of said second gaming unit being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game represented by said video image;

an optical communication transceiver capable of wireless data transmission and reception; and

an optical communication controller coupled to said optical communication transceiver of said second gaming unit and said gaming unit controller of said second gaming unit, said optical communication controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said optical communication controller of said second gaming unit,

said optical communication controller of said second gaming unit being programmed to allow wireless data communication with said optical communication transceiver of said first gaming unit;

a routing device comprising;

an optical communication transceiver capable of wireless data transmission and reception; and

a routing device controller comprising a processor and a memory,

said routing device controller being programmed to allow communication with said optical communication transceivers of said first and second gaming units.

2. The gaming system as defined in claim 1, wherein said optical communication controllers of said first and second gaming units and said routing device are programmed to allow wireless data transmission and reception of gaming data and player data.

3. The gaming system as defined in claim 1, wherein said optical communication transceivers of said first and second gaming units and said routing device each comprise an infrared transceiver comprising a photoemissive device capable of generating infrared light and a photoreceptor device capable of receiving infrared light, wherein said photoemissive device comprises a laser diode, and wherein each of said optical communication transceivers of said first and second gaming units and said routing device is capable of point-to-point communication.

4. The gaming system as defined in claim 1, wherein said optical communication transceivers of said first and second gaming units and said routing device each comprise an infrared transceiver comprising a photoemissive device capable of generating infrared light and a photoreceptor device capable of receiving infrared light, wherein said photoemissive device comprises a laser diode, and wherein each of said optical communication transceivers of said first and second gaming units and said routing device is capable of point-to-multipoint communication.

5. The gaming system as defined in claim 1, wherein said optical communication transceivers of said first and second gaming units and said routing device each comprise an infrared transceiver comprising a photoemissive device capable of generating infrared light and a photoreceptor device capable of receiving infrared light, wherein said photoemissive device comprises a light emitting diode, and wherein said optical communication transceivers of said first and second gaming units and said routing device are capable of point-to-point communication.

6. The gaming system as defined in claim 1, wherein said optical communication transceivers of said first and second gaming units and said routing device each comprise an infrared transceiver comprising a photoemissive device capable of generating infrared light and a photoreceptor device capable of receiving infrared light, wherein said photoemissive device comprises a light emitting diode, and wherein said optical communication transceivers of said first and second gaming units and said routing device are capable of point-to-multipoint communication.

7. The gaming system as defined in claim 1, wherein said routing device controller is programmed to allow communication with said optical communication transceiver of said first gaming unit, wherein said optical communication controller of said first gaming unit is programmed to allow communication with said optical communication transceiver of said routing device, wherein said optical communication controller of said first gaming unit is programmed to allow communication with said optical communication transceiver of said second gaming unit, and wherein said optical communication controller of said second gaming unit is programmed to allow communication with said optical communication transceiver of first second gaming unit.

8. The gaming system as defined in claim 1, wherein said routing device controller is programmed to allow communication with said optical communication transceiver of said first gaming unit and said optical communication transceiver of second gaming unit, wherein said optical communication controller of said first gaming unit is programmed to allow communication with said optical communication transceiver of said routing device, and wherein said optical communication controller of said second gaming unit is programmed to allow communication with said optical communication transceiver of said routing device.

9. The gaming system as defined in claim 1, wherein said optical communication transceivers of said first and second gaming units and said routing device each comprises an infrared data transceiver.

10. The gaming system as defined in claim 1, wherein said optical communication transceivers of said first and second gaming units and said routing device each comprise a Fast Infrared (FIR) transceiver.

11. The gaming system as defined in claim 1, wherein said optical communication transceivers of said first and second gaming units and said routing device each comprise a Serial Infrared (SIR) transceiver.

12. A gaming system comprising:

a first gaming unit comprising;

a display unit that is capable of generating video images;

a value input device;

a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said gaming unit controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,

said gaming unit controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,

said gaming unit controller of being programmed to cause a video image to be generated on said display unit, said video image representing a game, and

said gaming unit controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game represented by said video image;

an optical communication transceiver capable of wireless data transmission and reception;

an optical communication controller coupled to said optical communication transceiver of said first gaming unit and said gaming unit controller of said first gaming unit, said optical communication controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said optical communication controller of said first gaming unit;

a second gaming unit comprising;

a display unit that is capable of generating video images;

a value input device;

a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to said display unit of said second gaming unit and said value input device of said second gaming unit, said gaming unit controller of said second gaming unit comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said second gaming unit,

said gaming unit controller of said second gaming unit being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,

said gaming unit controller of said second gaming unit being programmed to cause a video image to be generated on said display unit of said second gaming unit, said video image representing a game, and

said gaming unit controller of said second gaming unit being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game represented by said video image;

an optical communication transceiver capable of wireless data transmission and reception; and

an optical communication controller coupled to said optical communication transceiver of said second gaming unit and said gaming unit controller of said second gaming unit, said optical communication controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said optical communication controller of said second gaming unit, said optical communication controller of said second gaming unit being programmed to allow wireless data communication with said optical communication transceiver of said first gaming unit;

a common optical communication transceiver capable of wireless data transmission and reception, said common optical communication transceiver being optically coupled to said optical communication transceivers of said first and second gaming units; and

a common controller operatively coupled to said common optical communication transceiver, said common controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said common controller, said common controller being programmed to facilitate communication between said common optical communication transceiver and said optical communication transceivers of said first and second gaming units.

13. The gaming system as defined in claim 12, wherein said common controller comprises a controller of a routing device.

14. The gaming system as defined in claim 12, wherein said optical communication controllers of said first and second gaming units and said common controller of said common optical communication transceiver are programmed to allow wireless data transmission and reception of gaming data and player data.

15. The gaming system as defined in claim 12, wherein said optical communication transceivers of said first and second gaming units and said common optical communication transceiver each comprise an infrared transceiver comprising a photoemissive device capable of generating infrared light and a photoreceptor device capable of receiving infrared light.

16. A gaming apparatus, comprising:

a display unit that is capable of generating video images;

a value input device;

a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said gaming unit controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,

said gaming unit controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,

said gaming unit controller being programmed to cause a video image representing a game to be generated on said display unit, said video image representing one of the following games;

video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno or video bingo,

said video image comprising an image of at least five playing cards if said game comprises video poker,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of simulated slot machine reels if said game comprises video slots,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of playing cards if said game comprises video blackjack,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of keno numbers if said game comprises video keno,

said video image comprising an image of a bingo grid if said game comprises video bingo, and

said gaming unit controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game;

an optical communication transceiver capable of wireless data transmission and reception; and

an optical communication controller coupled to said optical communication transceiver and said gaming unit controller, said optical communication controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said optical communication controller,

said optical communication controller being programmed to allow wireless data communication with an optical communication transceiver of another device at a location remote from said gaming apparatus.

17. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said optical communication controller of said gaming apparatus is programmed to allow wireless data transmission and reception of gaming data and player data.

18. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said optical communication controller of said gaming apparatus is programmed to allow wireless data transmission and reception of computer programs.

19. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said optical communication transceiver of said gaming apparatus comprises an infrared transceiver comprising a photoemissive device capable of generating infrared light and a photoreceptor device capable of receiving infrared light, wherein said photoemissive device comprises a laser diode, and wherein said optical communication transceiver of is capable of point-to-point communication.

20. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said optical communication transceiver comprises an infrared transceiver comprising a photoemissive device capable of generating infrared light and a photoreceptor device capable of receiving infrared light, wherein said photoemissive device comprises a laser diode, and wherein said optical communication transceiver is capable of point-to-multipoint communication.

21. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said optical communication transceiver comprises an infrared transceiver comprising a photoemissive device capable of generating infrared light and a photoreceptor device capable of receiving infrared light, wherein said photoemissive device comprises a light emitting diode, and wherein said optical communication transceiver is capable of point-to-point communication.

22. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said optical communication transceiver comprises an infrared transceiver comprising a photoemissive device capable of generating infrared light and a photoreceptor device capable of receiving infrared light, wherein said photoemissive device comprises a light emitting diode, and wherein said optical communication transceiver is capable of point-to-multipoint communication.

23. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said optical communication controller is programmed to allow communication with an optical communication transceiver of a routing device, and wherein said optical communication controller is programmed to allow communication with an optical communication transceiver of a second gaming unit.

24. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said optical communication controller is programmed to allow communication with an optical communication transceiver of a routing device.

25. A gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses as defined in claim 16, said gaming apparatuses being interconnected to form a network of gaming apparatuses.

26. A gaming system as defined in claim 25, wherein said gaming apparatuses are interconnected via the Internet.

27. A gaming apparatus, comprising:

a display unit that is capable of generating video images;

a value input device;

a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said gaming unit controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said gaming unit controller,

said gaming unit controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,

said gaming unit controller being programmed to allow a person to make a payline selection,

said gaming unit controller being programmed to cause a video image to be generated on said display unit, said video image comprising a plurality of simulated slot machine reels of a slots game, each of said slot machine reels having a plurality of slot machine symbols,

said gaming unit controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said slots game, said gaming unit controller being programmed to determine said outcome of said slots game based on a configuration of said slot machine symbols;

an optical communication transceiver capable of wireless data transmission and reception; and

an optical communication controller coupled to said optical communication transceiver and said gaming unit controller, said optical communication controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said optical communication controller,

said optical communication controller being programmed to allow wireless data communication with an optical communication transceiver of another device at a location remote from said gaming apparatus.

28. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein said gaming unit controller is programmed to allow a user to select a number of paylines.

29. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein said optical communication controller of said gaming apparatus is programmed to allow wireless data transmission and reception of gaming data and player data.

30. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein said optical communication transceiver of said gaming apparatus comprises an infrared transceiver comprising a photoemissive device capable of generating infrared light and a photoreceptor device capable of receiving infrared light, wherein said photoemissive device comprises a laser diode, and wherein said optical communication transceiver is capable of point-to-point communication.

31. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein said optical communication transceiver comprises an infrared transceiver comprising a photoemissive device capable of generating infrared light and a photoreceptor device capable of receiving infrared light, wherein said photoemissive device comprises a laser diode, and wherein said optical communication transceiver is a capable of point-to-multipoint communication.

32. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein said optical communication transceiver comprises an infrared transceiver comprising a photoemissive device capable of generating infrared light and a photoreceptor device capable of receiving infrared light, wherein said photoemissive device comprises a light emitting diode, and wherein said optical communication transceiver is capable of point-to-point communication.

33. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein said optical communication transceiver comprises an infrared transceiver comprising a photoemissive device capable of generating infrared light and a photoreceptor device capable of receiving infrared light, wherein said photoemissive device comprises a light emitting diode, and wherein said optical communication transceiver is capable of point-to-multipoint communication.

34. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein said optical communication controller is programmed to allow communication with an optical communication transceiver of a routing device, and wherein said optical communication controller is programmed to allow communication with an optical communication transceiver of a second gaming unit.

35. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein said optical communication controller is programmed to allow communication with an optical communication transceiver of routing device.

36. A gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses as defined in claim 35, said gaming apparatuses being interconnected to form a network of gaming apparatuses.

37. A gaming apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of rotatable slot machine reels disposed in said housing to allow play of a slots game, each of said slot machine reels having a plurality of slot machine symbols disposed thereon;

a value input device;

a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to said slot machine reels and said value input device, said gaming unit controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said gaming unit controller,

said gaming unit controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager, and

said gaming unit controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said slots game, said gaming unit controller being programmed to determine said outcome of said slots game based on a configuration of said slot machine symbols;

an optical communication transceiver capable of wireless data transmission and reception; and

an optical communication controller coupled to said optical communication transceiver and said gaming unit controller, said optical communication controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said optical communication controller,

said optical communication controller being programmed to allow wireless data communication with an optical communication transceiver of another device at a location remote from said gaming apparatus.

38. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 37, wherein said gaming apparatus is programmed to allow a user to select a number of paylines.

39. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 37, wherein said optical communication controller of said gaming apparatus is programmed to allow wireless data transmission and reception of gaming data and player data.

40. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 37, wherein said optical communication transceiver of said gaming apparatus comprises an infrared transceiver comprising a photoemissive device capable of generating infrared light and a photoreceptor device capable of receiving infrared light, wherein said photoemissive device comprises a laser diode, and wherein said optical communication transceiver is capable of point-to-point communication.

41. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 37, wherein said optical communication transceiver comprises an infrared transceiver comprising a photoemissive device capable of generating infrared light and a photoreceptor device capable of receiving infrared light, wherein said photoemissive device comprises a light emitting diode, and wherein said optical communication transceiver is capable of point-to-point communication.

42. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 37, wherein said optical communication transceiver comprises an infrared transceiver comprising a photoemissive device capable of generating infrared light and a photoreceptor device capable of receiving infrared light, wherein said photoemissive device comprises a light emitting diode, and wherein said optical communication transceiver is capable of point-to-multipoint communication.

43. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 37, wherein said optical communication controller is programmed to allow communication with an optical communication transceiver of a routing device, and wherein said optical communication controller is programmed to allow communication with an optical communication transceiver of a second gaming unit.

44. The gaming apparatus as defined in claim 37, wherein said optical communication controller is programmed to allow communication with an optical communication transceiver of a routing device.

45. A gaming method comprising:

causing a video image representing a game to be generated, said video image representing one of the following games;

video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno or video bingo,

said video image comprising an image of at least five playing cards if said game comprises video poker,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of simulated slot machine reels if said game comprises video slots,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of playing cards if said game comprises video blackjack,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of keno numbers if said game comprises video keno, and

said video image comprising an image of a bingo grid if said game comprises video bingo;

determining a value payout associated with an outcome of said game represented by said video image; and

optically transmitting gaming data to a remote communication device via a wireless data link.

46. A gaming method as defined in claim 45, additionally comprising transmission and reception of gaming data and player data.

47. A gaming method as defined in claim 45, additionally comprising:

optically transmitting said gaming data to an optical communication transceiver of said remote communication device; and

optically receiving data from said optical communication transceiver of said remote communication device.

48. A gaming method as defined in claim 45, additionally comprising:

optically transmitting said gaming data to a plurality of optical communication transceivers of a plurality of remote communication devices; and

optically receiving data from said plurality of optical communication transceivers of s aid plurality of remote communication devices.

49. A gaming method as defined in claim 45, additionally comprising:

communicating with an optical communication transceiver of a routing device, and

communicating with an optical communication transceiver of another gaming unit.

50. A gaming method as defined in claim 45, additionally comprising:

communicating with an optical communication transceiver of a routing device.