System for providing an interface for a gaming device

• US 20040082380A1
• Filed: 09/12/2003
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Konami Gaming Incorporated (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Gaming Incorporated (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Sepich, Edward, Tyndall, Terry, George, Jeffrey, Smiley, David, Pochin, John-Paul
• Application Number:
  US10/661,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20040082380A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

A device for providing an interface to a gaming machine. The device includes a processor, an ID Card reader coupled to the processor, a display coupled to the processor for displaying a bezel and information within the bezel. The device also including a keypad coupled to the processor for receiving input. The processor instructing the display to media.

Claims

1. A player tracking device for providing a player interface to a player of a gaming machine, the player tracking device coupled to the gaming machine, comprising:

a processor;

an ID Card reader coupled to the processor;

a display coupled to the processor for displaying a bezel and information to the player, the information being displayed within the bezel; and

,

a keypad coupled to the processor for receiving input from the player, the processor instructing the display to display instructions for inserting a player ID Card into the ID Card reader and for displaying cycling media.

2. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 1, the display being a touch-screen display.

3. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 2, the keypad being implemented by the touch-screen display.

4. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cycling media includes at least one of local attractions, general in-house advertisements, paid advertisements by local merchants, show reviews, promotional alerts, security alerts, community service advisories, emergency directions, featured videos, a Keno board.

5. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 1, the bezel having a modifiable parameter for indicating information to a slot employee.

6. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 5, the modifiable parameter being color.

7. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 5, the modifiable parameter having one of first and second values.

8. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 7, the first and second values being associated with predetermined criteria of the player.

9. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 7, the first value being indicative of a hot player, the second value being indicative of a mild player.

10. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 1, the processor being coupled to a host computer, the host computer for managing a database containing player information, the player information including bonus points, the player tracking device for identifying a player, the display for displaying to the player at least one of a bonus point total, a session bonus point total, and an available cash play.

11. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 10, the display for displaying a button for allowing the player to page a slot employee.

12. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 11, the slot employee being a security employee.

13. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 1, the display for displaying a list of vouchers assigned to the player, the player being allowed to select a voucher to download, each voucher having an associated number of bonus points.

14. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 13, the bonus points being incentive points.

15. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 13, the bonus points being credits.

16. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 15, the player tracking device for allowing the player to download the credits to the gaming machine.

17. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 13, each voucher being designated as cashable or non-cashable.

18. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 1, the player tracking device for allowing to player to send and receive messages to one of a spouse, friend, or slot employee.

19. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 18, the message being at least one of text, video, and audio.

20. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 1, the player tracking device for allowing to player to conference call one of a spouse, friend, or slot employee.

21. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 20, the conference call being one of audio and audio/video.

22. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 1, the player being identified by at least one of a player ID card inserted in the ID card reader and a identification number entered on the keypad.

23. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 22, the display being a touchscreen, the keypad being implemented on the touchscreen.

24. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 1, the player tracking device for providing a live video feed of a remote location.

25. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 24, the remote location being a childcare facility.

26. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 25, the player tracking device for confirming that a child of the player is enrolled at the child care facility.

27. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 1, the player tracking device for alerting a technician in response to an error condition of the gaming machine.

28. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 27, the player tracking device for identifying the technician one of an ID card inserted into the ID card reader and a identification number entered on the keypad.

29. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 28, the device for displaying technical instructions to the slot technician.

30. A device for providing an interface to a gaming machine for use by a user, the player tracking device coupled to the gaming machine, comprising:

a processor;

an ID Card reader coupled to the processor;

a display coupled to the processor for displaying a bezel and information to the player, the information being displayed within the bezel; and

,

a keypad coupled to the processor for receiving input from the user and for displaying media to the users.

31. A device, as set forth in claim 30, the media including technical instructions.

32. A device, as set forth in claim 31, the technical instructions being in the form of streaming video.

33. A device, as set forth in claim 31, the technical instructions being related to a repair of the gaming machine.

34. A device, as set forth in claim 30, the keypad for entering repair codes by the user.

35. A device, as set forth in claim 30, the keypad for entering verification of machine activity.

36. A device, as set forth in claim 30, the device coupled to a second device of a second gaming machine, the keypad for entering verification of machine activity related to the second gaming machine.

37. A device, as set forth in claim 30, the media containing debugging information related to the gaming machine.

38. A device, as set forth in claim 30, the media containing a machine glossary of terms.

39. A device, as set forth in claim 30, media containing a live video feed from a selected security camera.

40. A player tracking device for providing a player interface to a player of a gaming machine, the player tracking device coupled to the gaming machine, comprising:

a processor;

an ID Card reader coupled to the processor;

a display coupled to the processor for displaying a bezel and information to the player, the information being displayed within the bezel; and

,

a keypad coupled to the processor for receiving input from the player, the processor instructing the display to display instructions for inserting a player ID Card into the ID Card reader and for displaying a live video feed of a remote location.

41. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 40, the remote location being a childcare facility.