Control and configuration of gaming machines based on gaming machine location

• US 20050043072A1
• Filed: 09/29/2004
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nelson, Dwayne
• Granted Patent: US 7,316,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• 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

Abstract

A method and apparatus for tracking and determining a location of a gaming machine or other item within a casino or hotel is disclosed. In one embodiment the method and apparatus utilizes a transmitter or emitter to provide a tracking signal that may be tracked by one or more receivers or detectors. It is contemplated that the transmitter or emitter connect to a gaming machine. As the gaming machine is relocated within the casino its location is monitored. The one or more receivers may communicate with a host computer or other data processing system to generate location data regarding the gaming machine in relation to other aspects of the casino. Based on the location information generated by the location monitoring and tracking system, other aspects of machine operation may be controlled and additional features dependant on the machine location information may be enabled.

Claims

1. -5:

(canceled)

6. :

A method for monitoring compliance with gaming regulations comprising;

receiving gaming machine location data regarding the location of one or more gaming machines;

processing the gaming machine location data;

comparing the processed gaming machine location data to casino area location data; and

generating an alert if the comparing reveals that the location of one or more gaming machines is not in compliance with gaming regulations.

7. :

The method of claim 6, wherein the gaming regulation comprises regulations regarding a minimum distance between a gaming machine and an area of a casino.

8. :

The method of claim 6, wherein the gaming machine location data is received from a gaming machine tracking system.

9. -16:

(canceled)

17. :

A method for configuring a gaming machine comprising;

determining a location of a gaming machine using a location tracking system;

analyzing the location of the gaming machine to determine operational data;

processing the operational data to generate control signals; and

transmitting the control signals to a gaming machine to establish or modify the configuration of the gaming machine.

18. :

The method of claim 17, wherein the configuration of the gaming machine controls aspects of the gaming machine selected from the group consisting of game availability, payout rates, machine denomination, audio volume, audio selection, video brightness, video selection, audio or video synchronization with other machines, machine enable/disable and audio enable/disable.

19. :

The method of claim 17, wherein the transmitting comprises sending the control signals to one or more gaming machines over a communication medium linking the gaming machines to a host.

20. :

The method of claim 17, wherein the analyzing comprises comparing the location data for the gaming machine to a database containing possible locations with corresponding operational data for each location.

21. :

A method for associating one or more gaming machines with a linked progressive comprising;

specifying one or more areas, wherein the one or more gaming machines located within the one or more areas are to be associated with a linked progressive;

specifying at least one linked progressive to associate with the one or more areas;

translating machine location data regarding the one or more gaming machines within the one or more areas to network address data;

communicating the network address to a linked progressive system to thereby associate the one or more gaming machines with the linked progressive.

22. :

The method of claim 21, wherein the linked progressive is linked between different casinos.

23. :

The method of claim 21, wherein the one or more areas are areas located near entrances to a casino.

24. :

The method of claim 21, wherein translating comprises converting the location of a gaming machine into a gaming machine identification and thereafter translating the gaming machine identification into a computer network address.