Portable data unit for communicating with gaming machine over wireless link

• US 20040214641A1
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Giobbi, John J.
• Application Number:
  US10/855,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20040214641A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/39
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens

Abstract

A method and arrangement for communicating with a gaming machine is disclosed. The gaming machine includes a first wireless transceiver. A portable data unit includes a second wireless transceiver. In response to positioning the portable data unit in proximity to the gaming machine, without inserting the portable data unit into any portion of the gaming machine, a wireless transmission link is established between the first and second wireless transceivers. The wireless transmission link may, for example, be a radio (RF) link or an infrared (IR) link. Information is transmitted between the portable data unit and the gaming machine via the wireless transmission link for such purposes as cashless gaming, player tracking, game customization, and data transfer.

Claims

1-74. -74. (canceled)

75. A cashless wagering game method, comprising:

storing on a personal data unit player tracking information associated with a player of a gaming machine; and

wirelessly communicating information, including the player tracking information, between the personal data unit and the gaming machine.

76. The method of claim 75, further comprising awarding a bonus outcome on the gaming machine based on the player tracking information.

77. The method of claim 75, wherein the player tracking information includes game play data.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the game play data includes the identity of a predetermined number of last machines played by the player and prizes awarded to the player.

79. The method of claim 75, further comprising randomly selecting an outcome from a plurality of outcomes in response to receiving a wager from the player.