Method and apparatus for providing a time based payment from a gaming device
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- determining a first time;
determining a second time; and
providing, based on the first time matching the second time, a payment from a gaming device.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided for providing payments at a gaming device, where the payments may occur at predictable times and are of predictable amounts. In one or more embodiments, a gaming device may provide a guaranteed payment every hour on the hour, so long as a player meets one or more criteria. Criteria may include a total amount wagered, a total number of handle pulls completed, or a total amount of time spent at a gaming device. One or more embodiments provide a method for withholding value from a player in order that the value may delivered later in the form of a guaranteed payment. One or more embodiments provide a method whereby multiple gaming devices may provide payments simultaneously, thereby creating mutually reinforcing sounds and visual displays.
221 Citations
58 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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determining a first time;
determining a second time; and
providing, based on the first time matching the second time, a payment from a gaming device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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determining a reference time;
receiving, from a player, a quantity of wagers whose aggregate value meets or exceeds a specified value;
determining, deterministically, the size of a payment; and
providing the payment to the player in temporal proximity to the reference time.
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15. The method of 14,
wherein determining a reference time includes determining, deterministically, a reference time.
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16. A method comprising:
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directing a first gaming device to provide a first payment that has been determined deterministically; and
directing, substantially simultaneously to directing the first gaming device, a second gaming device to provide a second payment that has been determined deterministically.
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17. A method comprising:
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determining a first payment deterministically;
determining a second payment deterministically;
directing a first gaming device to provide the first payment; and
directing, substantially simultaneously to directing the first gaming device, a second gaming device to provide the second payment.
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18. A method comprising:
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directing a first gaming device to provide, at a specified time, a first payment that has been determined deterministically; and
directing a second gaming device to provide, at the specified time, a second payment that has been determined deterministically.
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19. A method comprising:
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determining a specified time deterministically;
directing a first gaming device to provide a payment at the specified time; and
directing a second gaming device to provide a payment at the specified time.
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20. A method comprising:
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determining a first payment for a first gaming device;
determining, independently of determining the first payment, a second payment for a second gaming device;
directing the first gaming device to provide the first payment at a specified time; and
directing the second gaming device to provide the second payment at the specified time.
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21. A system comprising:
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a first gaming device storing instructions to emit a sound at a specified time;
a second gaming device storing instructions to emit a sound at the specified time; and
a third gaming device, disposed between the first gaming device and the second gaming device, that is silent at the specified time.
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22. A method comprising:
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determining a first time;
determining a second time; and
producing, based on the first time matching the second time, the sound of coins dropping, without dropping a coin.
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23. A method comprising:
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instructing a first gaming device to produce, at a specified time, the sound of coins dropping; and
instructing a second gaming device to produce, at the specified time, the sound of coins dropping.
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24. A method comprising:
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generating an outcome;
determining a payout associated with the outcome;
apportioning the payout into a first payment and a second payment;
providing, at a first time, the first payment; and
providing, at a second time, the second payment.
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25. The method of 24,
wherein providing, at a first time, includes providing, at a first time that has been determined randomly, the first payment; - and
wherein providing, at a second time, includes providing, at a second time that has been determined deterministically, the second payment.
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26. The method of 24,
wherein apportioning includes apportioning, based on a predetermined percentage, the payout amount into a first payment and a second payment.
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27. A method comprising
generating a first outcome; -
determining a first payout associated with the first outcome;
apportioning the first payout into a first payment and a second payment;
generating a second outcome;
determining a second payout associated with the second outcome;
apportioning the second payout into a third payment and a fourth payment; and
providing the second payment and the fourth payment at predetermined times. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A method comprising:
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determining a first time;
determining a second time; and
initiating, based on the first time matching the second time, play of a bonus round.
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30. A system comprising:
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a processor;
a memory coupled to the processor; and
a program stored in the memory including instructions operable to;
determine a first time;
determine a second time; and
provide, based on the first time matching the second time, a payment from a gaming device. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A system comprising:
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a processor;
a memory coupled to the processor; and
a program stored in the memory including instructions operable to;
determine a reference time;
receive, from a player, a quantity of wagers whose aggregate value meets or exceeds a specified value;
determine, deterministically, the size of a payment; and
provide the payment to the player in temporal proximity to the reference time. - View Dependent Claims (44)
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45. A system comprising:
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a processor;
a memory coupled to the processor; and
a program stored in the memory including instructions operable to;
direct a first gaming device to provide a first payment that has been determined deterministically; and
direct, substantially simultaneously to directing the first gaming device, a second gaming device to provide a second payment that has been determined deterministically.
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46. A system comprising:
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a processor;
a memory coupled to the processor; and
a program stored in the memory including instructions operable to;
determine a first payment deterministically;
determine a second payment deterministically;
direct a first gaming device to provide the first payment; and
direct, substantially simultaneously to directing the first gaming device, a second gaming device to provide the second payment.
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47. A system comprising:
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a processor;
a memory coupled to the processor; and
a program stored in the memory including instructions operable to;
direct a first gaming device to provide, at a specified time, a first payment that has been determined deterministically; and
direct a second gaming device to provide, at the specified time, a second payment that has been determined deterministically.
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48. A system comprising:
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a processor;
a memory coupled to the processor; and
a program stored in the memory including instructions operable to;
determine a specified time deterministically;
direct a first gaming device to provide a payment at the specified time; and
direct a second gaming device to provide a payment at the specified time.
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49. A system comprising:
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a processor;
a memory coupled to the processor; and
a program stored in the memory including instructions operable to;
determine a first payment for a first gaming device;
determine, independently of determining the first payment, a second payment for a second gaming device;
direct the first gaming device to provide the first payment at a specified time; and
direct the second gaming device to provide the second payment at the specified time.
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50. A system comprising:
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a processor;
a memory coupled to the processor; and
a program stored in the memory including instructions operable to;
determine a first time;
determine a second time; and
produce, based on the first time matching the second time, the sound of coins dropping, without dropping a coin.
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51. A system comprising:
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a processor;
a memory coupled to the processor; and
a program stored in the memory including instructions operable to;
instruct a first gaming device to produce, at a specified time, the sound of coins dropping; and
instruct a second gaming device to produce, at the specified time, the sound of coins dropping.
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52. A system comprising:
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a processor;
a memory coupled to the processor; and
a program stored in the memory including instructions operable to;
generate an outcome;
determine a payout associated with the outcome;
apportion the payout into a first payment and a second payment;
provide, at a first time, the first payment; and
provide, at a second time, the second payment. - View Dependent Claims (53)
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54. The system of 52,
wherein the program further includes instructions to: apportion, based on a predetermined percentage, the payout amount into a first payment and a second payment.
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55. A system comprising
a processor; -
a memory coupled to the processor; and
a program stored in the memory including instructions operable to;
generate a first outcome;
determine a first payout associated with the first outcome;
apportion the first payout into a first payment and a second payment;
generate a second outcome;
determine a second payout associated with the second outcome;
apportion the second payout into a third payment and a fourth payment; and
provide the second payment and the fourth payment at predetermined times. - View Dependent Claims (56)
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57. A system comprising:
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a processor;
a memory coupled to the processor; and
a program stored in the memory including instructions operable to;
determine a first time;
determine a second time; and
initiate, based on the first time matching the second time, play of a bonus round.
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58. A method comprising:
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determining a reference time;
determining a current time;
determining whether a player of a gaming device has satisfied at least one criterion;
determining a size of a payment deterministically and independently of any prior outcomes generated by the gaming device; and
providing, based on the first time matching the second time and the determining whether a player of a gaming device has satisfied at least one criterion, the payment from the gaming device, wherein determining a reference time includes determining a time that is a predetermined number of minutes before or after a beginning of a next hour, wherein the at least one criterion includes the player has paid, in taxes to the gaming device, an amount of currency whose aggregate value equals or exceeds a specified value, within a time interval beginning a specified period of time prior to the reference time, and ending with the reference time, and wherein the at least one criterion further includes the player is present at the gaming device at the reference time.
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Specification