Method and apparatus for deriving information from a gaming device

• US 20040106449A1
• Filed: 10/08/2003
• Published: 06/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Fincham, Magdalena M., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Sammon, Russell P., Walker, Jay S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,771,271 B2
• 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

Abstract

In accordance with one or more embodiments, an information deriving device is associated with at least one gaming device. The information deriving device is operable to derive information about occurrences (e.g., payouts obtained, wagers placed, reactions of player, balance of credit meter, etc.) at the gaming device, without cooperation of the gaming device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining, based on information derived from a gaming device, an occurrence of a predetermined event at the gaming device,

wherein the information is derived without cooperation of the gaming device; and

causing, based on the occurrence of the event, a message to be output to a player of the gaming device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined event comprises at least one of:

a predetermined outcome for a game play;

a predetermined payout for a game play;

a payout above a predetermined threshold;

a payout below a predetermined threshold;

a predetermined sum of payouts for a plurality of game plays;

a placement of a predetermined wager by a player of the gaming device;

a predetermined reel configuration;

a play strategy employed by a player of the gaming device;

a request by a player of the gaming device to cash out credits from the gaming device;

entrance into a bonus round;

a win of a bonus prize;

a credit balance of the gaming device reaching a predetermined amount;

a predetermined change in a credit balance of the gaming device;

an actuation by a player of the gaming device of a predetermined button on the gaming device;

a predetermined activity being performed by a player of the gaming device; and

a presence of a predetermined number of persons within a predetermined vicinity of the gaming device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising deriving information from the gaming device by monitoring at least one of:

data displayed on a display device of the gaming device;

a status of a mechanical display of the gaming device;

acoustical data output by the gaming device;

actuation of a mechanism of the gaming device;

selection of areas of a touch screen of the gaming device;

wager placement at the gaming device;

insertion of currency into the gaming device;

cashless gaming activity at the gaming device;

output of a receipt at the gaming device;

usage of a player tracking card reader of the gaming device;

an output of coins into a coin tray of the gaming device;

vibrations emanating from the gaming device;

at least one of electrical, electromagnetic, infrared, and radio frequency signals being output from or received by the gaming device;

a predetermined vicinity of the gaming device for the presence of people; and

a predetermined surface of the gaming device for the placement of an object on the surface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data derived from the gaming device comprises at least one of:

graphical data, acoustical data, electrical signals, electromagnetic signals, infrared signals, and radio frequency signals.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is derived by intercepting data output by the gaming device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein intercepting data comprises:

intercepting, inside a housing of the gaming device, a digital signal output by a processor of the gaming device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein intercepting data comprises:

intercepting, along a network on which the gaming device is located, a signal output by the gaming device to another device.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein intercepting data comprises:

intercepting at least one of graphical data and acoustical data output by the gaming device for the perception of a player of the gaming device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

deriving, without cooperation of the gaming device, information from the gaming device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

providing the derived information to a computing device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving, from the computing device, an indication of a message to be output to the player of the gaming device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

outputting the message to the player of the gaming device.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the message to be output to the player of the gaming device.

14. A method, comprising:

determining graphical data displayed on a display component of a gaming device;

comparing the graphical data to data stored in memory;

determining, based on the comparing, whether a predetermined event has occurred at the gaming device;

determining, if the predetermined event has occurred, a corresponding message to be output to a player of the gaming device; and

causing the message to be output on a player device associated with the player.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein determining graphical data comprises:

capturing the graphical data via at least one camera focused on the display component of the gaming device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the camera is attached to the gaming device.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein causing comprises:

causing the message to be output on a portable device associated with the player.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the message comprises an offer and further comprising:

determining whether the player has accepted the offer.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein determining whether the player has accepted the offer comprises:

determining whether the player has performed an activity at the gaming device, in accordance with instructions included in the offer.

20. A system, comprising:

a first device comprising a gaming device,

the gaming device being operable to output a first set of data to a second device via a computer network, and

the gaming device being further operable to output a second set of data to an operator of the gaming device via an interface;

a third device, the third device being operable to receive a third set of data from the gaming device,

wherein the third device is not operable to communicate with the gaming device via a computer network, and

wherein the third device is further operable to cause a message to be output to a player of the gaming device, the message being determined based on the gathered data.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

a fourth device, the fourth device comprising a server for controlling the third device.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the third device is further operable to provide the third set of data to the fourth device.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the fourth device is operable to:

determine the message to be output to a player of the gaming device.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the fourth device is further operable to:

transmit an indication of the message to the third device, thereby instructing the third device to output the message to the player.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the fourth device is further operable to:

output the message to the player.

26. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor, and

a storage device that stores a program for directing the processor;

the processor being operative with the program to;

derive information from a gaming device, without cooperation of the gaming device;

determine, based on the derived information, the occurrence of a predetermined event at the gaming device; and

cause, based on the determination of the occurrence of the predetermined event, a message to be output to a player of the gaming device.

27. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device that stores a program for directing the processor,

the processor being operative with the program to;

derive a first set of data from a gaming device,

wherein the first set of data is derived without communicating with the gaming device through a computer network, and

further wherein the gaming device is operable to output via a computer network a second set of data to a computing device, and output a third set of data to an operator of the gaming device via an interface of the gaming device.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the first set of data is mutually exclusive from the second set of data and the third set of data.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:

determine, based on the first set of data, the occurrence of a predetermined event.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:

cause, based on the determination of the occurrence of the predetermined event, a message to be output to a player of the gaming device.