Gaming device for a flat rate play session and method of operating same
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed generally to a method and apparatus for operating a gaming device having a flat rate play session costing a flat rate price. The flat rate play session spans multiple plays on the gaming device over a pre-established duration. The gaming device identifies price parameters and determines the flat rate price of playing the gaming device based on those price parameters. In one embodiment, identifying price parameters includes receiving player selected price parameters. In another embodiment, price parameters further incorporate operator selected price parameters. Should the player decide to pay the flat rate price, the player simply deposits the necessary funds into the gaming device or makes a credit account available for the gaming device to debit. Once the player initiates play, the gaming device tracks the duration remaining in the flat rate play session and stops the play when the given period has elapsed. During the play, payouts are made either directly to the player in the form of coins or indirectly in the form of credits to the player'"'"'s credit account.
129 Citations
94 Claims
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1-59. -59. (canceled)
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60. A method of operating a gaming device, comprising:
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outputting, to a player of a gaming device, an indication of at least one flat rate play session that may be purchased via the gaming device, the indication including a price of the at least one flat rate play session, wherein the flat rate play session comprises a period of play of the gaming device during which the player need not make funds available for plays, the period spanning a plurality of plays of the gaming device;
receiving, from the player, a selection of the at least one flat rate play session;
determining at least one parameter that defines the flat rate play session; and
initiating the flat rate play session in accordance with the at least one parameter. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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69. A device, comprising:
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a processor; and
a storage device in communication with said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to;
output, to a player of a gaming device, an indication of at least one flat rate play session that may be purchased via the gaming device, the indication including a price of the at least one flat rate play session, wherein the flat rate play session comprises a period of play of the gaming device during which the player need not make funds available for plays, the period spanning a plurality of plays of the gaming device;
receive, from the player, a selection of the at least one flat rate play session;
determine at least one parameter that defines the flat rate play session; and
initiate the flat rate play session in accordance with the at least one parameter.
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70. A system, comprising:
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a controller operable to communicate with a plurality of gaming devices, the controller being further operable to;
output, to a player of one of the gaming devices, an indication of at least one flat rate play session that may be purchased via the gaming device, the indication including a price of the at least one flat rate play session, wherein the flat rate play session comprises a period of play of the gaming device during which the player need not make funds available for plays, the period spanning a plurality of plays of the gaming device;
receive, from the player, a selection of the at least one flat rate play session;
determine at least one parameter that defines the flat rate play session; and
initiate the flat rate play session in accordance with the at least one parameter;
the system further comprisingthe plurality of gaming devices.
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71. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:
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outputting, to a player of a gaming device, an indication of at least one flat rate play session that may be purchased via the gaming device, the indication including a price of the at least one flat rate play session, wherein the flat rate play session comprises a period of play of the gaming device during which the player need not make funds available for plays, the period spanning a plurality of plays of the gaming device;
receiving, from the player, a selection of the at least one flat rate play session;
determining at least one parameter that defines the flat rate play session; and
initiating the flat rate play session in accordance with the at least one parameter.
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72. A method of operating a gaming device, comprising:
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outputting, via a gaming device, an indication of a plurality of flat rate play session packages that are available for purchase, each flat rate play session package having associated therewith a price and at least one parameter defining the flat rate play session of the package, wherein each flat rate play session comprises a period of time during which a player need not make funds available between plays, the period of time spanning multiple plays of the gaming device;
receiving, from a player, a selection of one of the flat rate play session packages; and
causing the gaming device to be configured to conduct the flat rate play session of the selected package in accordance with the at least one parameter associated therewith. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91)
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92. A device, comprising:
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a processor; and
a storage device in communication with said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to;
output, via a gaming device, an indication of a plurality of flat rate play session packages that are available for purchase, each flat rate play session package having associated therewith a price and at least one parameter defining the flat rate play session of the package, wherein each flat rate play session comprises a period of time during which a player need not make funds available between plays, the period of time spanning multiple plays of the gaming device;
receive, from a player, a selection of one of the flat rate play session packages; and
cause the gaming device to be configured to conduct the flat rate play session of the selected package in accordance with the at least one parameter associated therewith.
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93. A system, comprising:
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a controller operable to communicate with a plurality of gaming devices, the controller being further operable to;
output, via a gaming device of the plurality of gaming devices, an indication of a plurality of flat rate play session packages that are available for purchase, each flat rate play session package having associated therewith a price and at least one parameter defining the flat rate play session of the package, wherein each flat rate play session comprises a period of time during which a player need not make funds available between plays, the period of time spanning multiple plays of the gaming device;
receive, from a player, a selection of one of the flat rate play session packages; and
cause the gaming device to be configured to conduct the flat rate play session of the selected package in accordance with the at least one parameter associated therewith;
the system further comprisingthe plurality of gaming devices.
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94. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:
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outputting, via a gaming device, an indication of a plurality of flat rate play session packages that are available for purchase, each flat rate play session package having associated therewith a price and at least one parameter defining the flat rate play session of the package, wherein each flat rate play session comprises a period of time during which a player need not make funds available between plays, the period of time spanning multiple plays of the gaming device;
receiving, from a player, a selection of one of the flat rate play session packages; and
causing the gaming device to be configured to conduct the flat rate play session of the selected package in accordance with the at least one parameter associated therewith.
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Specification