Adventure sequence activities

• US 20050107164A1
• Filed: 08/30/2004
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Binh T., Muir, David Hugh
• Granted Patent: US 7,892,097 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements

Abstract

A gaming system includes a communication network, a portable data storage device having information associated with a player stored therein and a plurality of gaming units communicatively coupled to the communication network. Each of the gaming units includes an interface for reading and for storing information within the portable data storage device. The gaming system also includes a network computer communicatively coupled to the communication network and the plurality of gaming units. The network computer is programmed to enable the player to play a group of the plurality of gaming units in a particular sequence based on the information associated with the player stored within the portable data storage device.

Claims

1. A gaming system, comprising:

a communication network;

a portable data storage device, able to communicate with the communication network, having information associated with a player stored therein,

one of a gaming and non-gaming unit communicatively coupled to the communication network, wherein the one of the gaming and non-gaming unit includes an interface for reading and for storing information within the portable data storage device; and

a network computer communicatively coupled to the communication network and the one of a gaming and non-gaming unit, wherein the network computer is programmed to enable the player to play the one of the gaming and non-gaming unit and engage in an activity in a particular sequence based on the information associated with the player stored within the portable data storage device.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the communication network includes an internet communication link.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the portable data storage device is one of a smart card, a magnetic stripe card, a smart PIN, a personal data assistant and a cellular phone.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the interface for reading and for storing information within the portable data storage device includes one of a magnetic and an optical card reader.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the one of the gaming and non-gaming unit is associated with a plurality of business venues and a plurality of geographic locations.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the particular sequence is selected from a plurality of gaming sequences based on an identity of the player.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the gaming activities include a gaming device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the gaming device is one of a global positioning system, a metal detector, and a bar code scanner.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the personal storage device receives information in the form of clues for use with the adventure activity.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the activity is one of a gaming and non-gaming activity.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the gaming activity is one of a electronic gambling game and a table game.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the electronic gambling game includes one of video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno and video bingo.

13. The system of claim 1, further including a reward such as one of a monetary value, a quantity of bonus points, a quantity of bonus time, a promotional item, a service and special conditions during the activity.

14. An information communication device, comprising:

a memory;

an output device;

an input device; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the memory the output device and the processor, wherein the processor is programmed to receive information pertaining to a player and an activity via the input device and to send a portion of the received information the output device.

15. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein the input device includes one of a magnetic card reader and an optical card reader.

16. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein the information pertaining to the player includes a unique identifier that corresponds to the player, performance statistics and monetary information.

17. A portable data storage device comprising:

a memory storing information associated with a player;

a sensory perceptible output;

an input device adapted to give and receive information to or from a communications network and one of a gaming and non-gaming unit; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the input device, and the sensory perceptible output device, wherein the processor is programmed to receive information pertaining to a player via the input device and to provide information to a player in accordance with an activity that is generated by the computer based on the received information.

18. A method of gaming comprising:

communicatively linking a system server to a portable storage device;

sending data pertaining to a activity, via a communication network, to the portable storage device;

initiating play of the activity based on the data obtained from the portable storage device;

communicating data pertaining to the completion of the activity, to the portable storage device;

performing a win evaluation of the activity;

accumulating win data associated with game; and

determining whether an adventure sequence has been completed based on the accumulated win data.

19. The method of claim 18, further including the step of communicating data pertaining to the completion of the non-gaming activity, to the system server.

20. The method of claim 18, further including the step of utilizing a gaming device to complete the activity.

21. The method of claim 18, further including the step of determining a gaming sequence.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of determining a gaming sequence includes at least one of a gaming and non-gaming unit and an activity, each of which is associated with a different physical location.

23. The method of claim 18, further including the step of initiating play of one of a video poker game, a video blackjack game, a video keno game, a video slots game and a video bingo game.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of determining an adventure includes the step of generating an adventure that includes a plurality of non-gaming activities, each of which is associated with a different physical location.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of determining an adventure includes the step of generating an adventure that includes a plurality of gaming units, each of which is associated with a different physical location.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of generating an adventure that includes the step of selecting the plurality of non-gaming units so that at least two non-gaming units are associated with different business establishments.

31. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of determining an adventure includes the step of generating an adventure based on the data pertaining to the player.

32. The method of claim 23, further including providing a clue to the player that is indicative of a next activity to be played by the player in accordance with the adventure.

24. A method of gaming comprising:

communicatively linking a system server to a portable storage device;

sending data pertaining to an adventure, via a communication network, to the portable storage device;

initiating play of the sequence by pursuing the completion of a non-gaming activity;

communicating data pertaining to the completion of the non-gaming activity, to the portable storage device;

performing a win evaluation of the non-gaming activity;

accumulating win data associated with game; and

determining whether an adventure has been completed based on the accumulated win data.

25. The method of claim 24, further including communicating data pertaining to the player.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein communicating data pertaining to the player includes a step from one of reading one of a unique identifier, sequential game information, monetary information, biometric information and performance statistics.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of communicating data pertaining to the player includes the step of retrieving information from a portable data storage device.