Method and apparatus for operating networked gaming devices
First Claim
1. A method of operating gaming devices interconnected by a computer network to a host computer comprising:
- sending a reconfiguration command from the host computer to a gaming device over the network;
receiving the reconfiguration command at the gaming device; and
reconfiguring the gaming device responsive to the received reconfiguration command, wherein the gaming device reconfigures its payout schedule in accordance with the received reconfiguration command.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for monitoring and configuring gaming devices interconnected over a high-speed network is disclosed. The system can support a file server, one or more floor controllers, one or more pit terminals, and other terminals all interconnected over the network. Each gaming device includes an electronic module which allows the gaming device to communicate with a floor controller over a current loop network. The electronic module includes a player tracking module and a data communication node. The player tracking module includes a card reader for detecting a player tracking card inserted therein which identifies the player. The data communication node communicates with both the floor controller and the gaming device. The data communication node communicates with the gaming device over a serial interface through which the data communication node transmits reconfiguration commands. The gaming device reconfigures its payout schedule responsive to the reconfiguration commands to provide a variety of promotional bonuses such as multiple jackpot bonuses, mystery jackpot bonuses, progressive jackpot bonuses, or player specific bonuses.
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Citations
61 Claims
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1. A method of operating gaming devices interconnected by a computer network to a host computer comprising:
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sending a reconfiguration command from the host computer to a gaming device over the network;
receiving the reconfiguration command at the gaming device; and
reconfiguring the gaming device responsive to the received reconfiguration command, wherein the gaming device reconfigures its payout schedule in accordance with the received reconfiguration command. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of operating gaming devices interconnected by a computer network to a host computer comprising:
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detecting a player associated with a gaming device;
sending a player identification number from the gaming device to the host computer over the network;
sending a status request from the host computer to a gaming device;
transmitting accounting data from the gaming device to the host computer over the same network; and
associating the accounting data with the player identification number for player tracking purposes. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method of operating gaming devices interconnected by a computer network to a host computer, the method comprising:
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detecting a player associated with a gaming device;
sending a reconfiguration command from the host computer to the player'"'"'s gaming device via the network;
receiving the reconfiguration command at the player'"'"'s gaming device; and
reconfiguring the player'"'"'s gaming device responsive to the received reconfiguration command, wherein the player'"'"'s gaming device reconfigures its payout schedule in accordance with the received reconfiguration command. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A system for operating a plurality of gaming devices having serial interfaces, the system comprising:
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a host computer;
a network interconnecting the gaming devices to the host computer;
means within the computer for transmitting a reconfiguration command to a gaming device;
means within each gaming device for receiving the reconfiguration command transmitted to the gaming device; and
means within each gaming device for reconfiguring the gaming device responsive to the received reconfiguration command, wherein the gaming device reconfigures its payout schedule in accordance with the received reconfiguration command. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method of providing feedback to a user inserting a user identification card having a unique user identification number encoded thereon into a gaming device, the method comprising:
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receiving the card into a card reader opening;
sensing the number on the card;
determining whether the sensed number is a valid identification number; and
providing feedback to the user adjacent the card reader opening, the feedback comprising a positive feedback signal if the sensed number is a valid identification number and a negative feedback signal if the sensed number is not a valid identification number. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A card reader having user feedback which reads a user identification card having a user identification number encoded thereon comprising:
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a bezel defining a card reader opening;
means for sensing the user identification number on the card;
means for determining whether the sensed number is a valid identification number; and
means for providing visual feedback to the user adjacent the card reader opening, the visual feedback comprising a first visual signal if the sensed number is a valid identification number and a second visual signal if the sensed number is not a valid identification number. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A method of operating gaming devices interconnected by a computer network to a host computer comprising:
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monitoring the activity of the gaming devices;
detecting the amount of money played on the gaming devices;
allocating a predetermined percentage of the money played to a bonus pool;
determining the level of the bonus pool; and
activating a bonus payout table in a gaming device when the bonus pool level exceeds a turn-on level. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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Specification