Method and apparatus for managing performance of multiple games

• US 20040015423A1
• Filed: 04/21/2003
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Sammon, Russell P., Downs, Michael D., Walker, Jay S.
• Application Number:
  US10/420,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20040015423A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0218 based on score
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• 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

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a method for managing games for use on gaming devices is presented, wherein the method comprises determining a measure of performance of a game, and determining a payment due to a provider of the game based on the measure of performance of the game. In one or more embodiments, the measure of performance may be used to determine whether to keep the game enabled on one or more gaming devices.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a measure of usage of a first game on a first gaming device;

determining a measure of usage of a second game on the first gaming device;

determining a first payment rate that is associated with a first party;

determining a first payment amount based on the first payment rate and the measure of usage of the first game;

initiating payment of the first payment amount to the first party;

determining a second payment rate that is associated with a second party;

determining a second payment amount based on the second payment rate and the measure of usage of the second game; and

initiating payment of the second payment amount to the second party.

2. A method comprising:

enabling a first game for use on a first gaming device;

determining a measure of profitability of the first gaming device,

in which the measure of profitability corresponds to play of the first game on the first gaming device;

determining a difference between the measure of profitability and a benchmark measure of profitability;

determining whether to disable the first game based on the difference; and

disabling the first game on the first gaming device if the first game should be disabled based on the difference.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

disabling the first game on a second gaming device if the first game should be disabled based on the difference.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

enabling a second game on the first gaming device if the first game should be disabled based on the difference.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

enabling a second game on the first gaming device if the first game should not be disabled based on the difference.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining a payment amount based on the difference; and

initiating payment of the payment amount to a party.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining a payment rate that is associated with the first feature;

determining a payment amount based on the payment rate; and

initiating payment of the payment amount to a party.

8. A method comprising:

determining a measure of usage of a game on at least one gaming device;

determining a payment amount based on the measure of usage of the game; and

initiating payment of the payment amount to a party having an interest in the game.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining if the game should be disabled on the at least one gaming device based on the measure of usage of the game; and

disabling the game on the at least one gaming device if the game should be disabled.

10. The method of claim 8, in which determining the measure of usage of the game comprises:

determining an amount of coin-in received at the at least one gaming device.

11. The method of claim 8, in which determining the measure of usage of the game comprises:

determining a period of time that the game is played on the at least one gaming device.

12. The method of claim 8, in which determining the measure of usage of the game comprises:

providing at least one offer for a product to at least one player; and

determining a number of accepted offers of the at least one offer provided.

13. The method of claim 8, in which determining the measure of usage of the game comprises:

providing at least one offer for a product to at least one player; and

determining a transaction amount based on at least one accepted offer of the at least one offer provided.

14. A method comprising:

determining a game that has been active on at least one gaming device;

determining a measure of performance of the game;

determining a payment rate that is associated with a party;

determining a payment amount based on the payment rate and the measure of performance of the game; and

initiating payment of the payment amount to the party.

15. The method of claim 14, in which the party is at least one of:

a licensor of the game,

a developer of the game, and

a vendor of the game.

16. The method of claim 14, in which determining the measure of performance of the game comprises:

determining a first theoretical win that is associated with the at least one gaming device;

determining a second theoretical win based on play of the game; and

determining a difference between the first theoretical win and the second theoretical win.

17. The method of claim 14, in which determining the measure of performance of the game comprises:

determining a first amount wagered at the at least one gaming device;

determining a second amount wagered on play of the game; and

determining a difference between the first amount wagered and the second amount wagered.

18. The method of claim 14, in which determining the measure of performance of the game comprises:

determining a measure of profitability of the at least one gaming device.

19. The method of claim 18, in which determining the measure of profitability of the game comprises:

determining an amount wagered at the at least one gaming device for play of the game; and

determining an amount paid out at the at least one gaming device during play of the game.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

determining a difference between the amount wagered and the amount paid out.

21. The method of claim 18, in which determining the measure of profitability of the game comprises at least one of:

determining an average amount wagered per player at the at least one gaming device for play of the game;

determining an average amount wagered per play at the at least one gaming device for play of the game;

determining an average amount wagered per a unit of time at the at least one gaming device for play of the game; and

determining an average rate of play at the at least one gaming device for play of the game.

22. The method of claim 14, in which determining the measure of performance of the game comprises:

determining an amount of coin-in received at the least one gaming device.

23. The method of claim 14, in which determining the measure of performance of the game comprises:

determining a period of time that the game has been played on the at least one gaming device.

24. The method of claim 14, in which determining the measure of performance of the game comprises:

determining a number of at least one offer provided to at least one player during play of the game,

in which the at least one offer was accepted.

25. The method of claim 14, in which determining the measure of performance of the game comprises:

determining a transaction amount corresponding to at least one accepted offer,

in which the at least one accepted offer was provided to at least one player during play of the game.