Scan based configuration control in a gaming environment

• US 20040002379A1
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Published: 01/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Crivelli, Franco, Parrott, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 7,909,699 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value

Abstract

This invention provides automated systems and methods for configuring and reconfiguring gaming machines and games playable on a gamine machine. The automated systems and methods employ a complementary gaming machine configuration device, such as a paper-based ticket, and interface operably associated with a gaming machine, such as a note acceptor or bill validator that receives, and reads the paper-based ticket. The gaining machine configuration device stores game parameter configuration information in the form of configuration indicia. The indicia may contain the content required to effect configuration directly or may do so indirectly by containing a reference to a location where a set of configuration parameters have been stored. This location may reside within the gaming machine or external to it, but accessible via. a communications link. The interface reads the indicia from the configuration device, and provides a signal to a processor responsible for managing the gaming machine. The processor has access to software or memory that stores associations between the configuration indicia and configuration and reconfiguration commands for the parameters. The processor and software are then designed or configured to convert the signal provided by the interface to commands that act on appropriate mechanisms of the gaming machine to configure or reconfigure the games and/or gaming machine components responsible for expression of the affected game parameters.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

an interface capable of (i) receiving a gaming machine configuration device, (ii) reading configuration indicia stored on the configuration device, and (iii) outputting a signal corresponding to the indicia;

a memory storing an array of settings for one or more game parameters; and

a processor designed or configured to receive the signal from the interface, and in response to the signal, configure or reconfigure one or more of the game parameters in the memory according to the signal corresponding to the indicia.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein the memory stores an association between a setting in the array of settings and the signal corresponding to the indicia.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein the interface is capable of receiving, reading and validating a paper-based device.

4. The gaming machine of claim 3 wherein the paper-based device is a printed paper ticket.

6. The gaming machine of claim 3 wherein the interface is also capable of reading paper currency.

7. The gaming machine of claim 3 wherein the interface comprises an array of light sensors that read the configuration indicia from predetermined locations on the paper-based device.

8. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein:

a) the gaming machine configuration device comprises authorization information; and

b) the memory or interface comprises instructions for verifying the authorization information.

9. The gaming machine of claim 1 further comprising an authentication mechanism that authenticates the identity of a person providing the gaming machine configuration device to the interface.

10. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein the interface outputs the configuration device from the interface after one or more of the game parameters have changed.

11. The gaming machine of claim 1 further including a storage device that stores the configuration device within the gaming machine after one or more of the game parameters have changed.

12. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein the one or more of the game parameters include a customer selectable preference, a game mode of operation, a sound level for a game activity, a maximum bet amount, a pay tables, and a tilt response.

13. The interface of claim 1 wherein the interface is mechanically disposed within a housing of the gaming machine.

32. The method of claim 11 wherein the interface comprises an optical scanner configured to optically read the configuration indicia from the gaming machine configuration device.

5. The gaming machine of claim a 3 wherein the paper-based device includes security measures in the paper used in the paper-based device.

14. A gaming machine configuration device for use with a gaming machine, the gaming machine configuration device comprising configuration indicia indicative of a setting for a parameter for a game playable on the gaming machine, the indicia capable of configuring or reconfiguring the parameter when the indicia is read by a gaming machine that is designed or adapted to read the indicia and configure or reconfigure the gaming machine or game indicated by the indicia, wherein the parameter refers to a design variable or element associated with a game or a game implementation on a gaming machine.

15. The gaming machine configuration device of claim 14 wherein the device is capable of insertion into the gaming machine.

16. The gaming machine configuration device of claim 14 wherein the device is a printed paper ticket.

17. The gaming machine configuration device of claim 16 wherein the paper ticket comprises configuration indicia printed on the ticket that corresponds to a desired setting or parameter for the game.

18. The gaming machine configuration device of claim 14 wherein the device comprises authorization information.

19. The gaming machine configuration device of claim 14 wherein the authorization information includes information related to the reaper included in the configuration device.

20. The gaming machine configuration device of claim 14 wherein the game parameter affects interaction between the player and the game or the player and the gaming machine.

21. The gaming machine configuration device of claim 14 wherein the device allows the player to suspend game play.

22. The gaming machine configuration device of claim 14 wherein the device allows configuration and reconfiguration based on personal identification of a player.

23. The gaming machine configuration device of claim 22 wherein the personnel identification is stored as a number that associates the layer with a set of reconfiguration parameters.

24. The gaming machine configuration device of claim 14 wherein the configuration indicia provides a reference to a location where the configuration and reconfiguration commands reside.

25. The gaming machine configuration device of claim 24 wherein the location is on the gaming.

26. A method for configuring or reconfiguring a parameter of a game playable on a gaming machine, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a gaming machine configuration device in an interface operably associated with the gaming machine;

(b) reading configuration indicia from the gaming machine configuration device; and

(c) configuring or reconfiguring a parameter of the game playable on the gaming machine in response to the configuration indicia.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising storing software within the gaming machine that associates one or more configuration or reconfiguration commands with the configuration indicia read from the gaming machine configuration device.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the configuration indicia provides a reference to a location where the configuration and reconfiguration commands reside.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising authorizing the gaming machine configuration device.

30. The method of claim 26 wherein the gaming machine configuration device is a paper ticket and the indicia is printed on the ticket.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising manufacturing the ticket using a printer.

33. The method of claim 26 further comprising ejecting the gaming machine configuration device from the interface after the parameters have been configured or reconfigured.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising performing (a)-(c) on a second gaming machine.

35. The method of claim 26 further comprising storing the gaming machine configuration device within the gaming machine after the parameter has been configured or reconfigured.

36. The method of claim 26 wherein configuring or reconfiguring a parameter comprises setting a new audio output for the gaming machine corresponding to a particular event in a new game.

37. The method of claim 26 wherein setting or changing a parameter comprises setting or changing a tilt response of the gaming machine.

38. The method of claim 26 wherein the configuration indicia is stored as a personal identification for a player.

39. The method of claim 26 wherein the configuration indicia is stored as a reference that identifies a player.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the personal identification is stored as a number that associates the player with a set of reconfiguration commands for that player.

41. A computer readable medium including instructions for configuring or reconfiguring a parameter of a game playable on a gaming machine, the computer readable medium comprising:

(a) instructions for receiving a gaming machine configuration device in an interface operably associated with the gaming machine;

(b) instructions for reading one or more configuration indicia from the gaming machine configuration device; and

(c) instructions for configuring or reconfiguring a parameter of the game playable on the gaming machine in response to the configuration indicia.