Apparatus and method for gaming tournament network

• US 20050221882A1
• Filed: 06/02/2005
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Binh T., Paulsen, Craig A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,753,790 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

A gaming system may include a number of gaming units and a host computer operatively coupled to the gaming units, and be configured to allow a gaming tournament to be conducted. Each of the gaming units may comprise a video display unit, a microphone, a camera, a speaker and a gaming unit controller. The gaming unit controller may be programmed to allow a person to select tournament play as a single or a group tournament player at a reserved or unreserved gaming unit, and to allow player data to be transmitted to the host computer. The host computer may include a host interface unit capable of receiving audio, visual and/or data input from a tournament host during the tournament, and a host computer controller capable of causing host data to be transmitted to the gaming units.

Claims

1-52. -52. (canceled)

53. A gaming system that allows a gaming tournament to be conducted, said gaming system comprising:

a host computer, said host computer comprising;

a video display unit;

a host computer controller, said host computer controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said host computer; and

said gaming system further comprising a plurality of gaming units that may be used by a plurality of tournament players, said plurality of gaming units operatively coupled to said host computer, one of said gaming units comprising;

a display unit that is capable of generating video images;

a player interface unit capable of receiving visual input from a tournament player, said player interface unit comprising a digital imaging; and

a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said player interface unit, said gaming unit controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said gaming unit controller,

said gaming unit controller being programmed to cause player data to be transmitted from said one gaming unit to said host computer during said gaming tournament, said player data including player visual data generated based on visual input received by said player interface unit during said gaming tournament;

said gaming unit controller being programmed to allow one of said tournament players to make a wager,

said gaming unit controller being programmed to cause a video image representing a game to be generated on said display unit, said video image representing one of the following games;

video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno, video bingo, or pachinko,

said video image comprising an image of at least five playing cards if said game comprises video poker,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of simulated slot machine reels if said game comprises video slots,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of playing cards if said game comprises video blackjack,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of keno numbers if said game comprises video keno,

said video image comprising an image of a bingo grid if said game comprises video bingo,

said video image comprising an image of a plurality of moving balls and obstacles if said game comprises pachinko, and

said gaming unit controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said games;

wherein said processor of said host computer controller is programmed to cause visual images generated from said player visual data to be displayed on said video display unit.

54. A gaming system as defined in claim 53, wherein said player interface unit further comprises an audio input device, said player interface unit further capable of receiving audio input from the tournament player;

wherein said player data includes player audio data generated based on audio input received by said player interface unit during said gaming tournament;

wherein said host computer further comprises a sound generating device; and

wherein said processor of said host computer controller is programmed to cause sound generated from said player audio data to be broadcast by said sound generating device.

55. A gaming system as defined in claim 53, wherein said gaming unit controller is programmed to cause said value payout in response to a configuration of said video images generated on said display unit.

56. The gaming system as defined in claim 53, wherein said player interface unit comprises a touch screen input device.

57. A gaming system that allows a gaming tournament to be conducted, said gaming system comprising:

a host computer, said host computer comprising;

a video display unit;

a sound generating device; and

a host computer controller, said host computer controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said host computer; and

said gaming system further comprising a plurality of gaming units that may be used by a plurality of tournament players, said plurality of gaming units operatively coupled to said host computer, one of said gaming units comprising;

a plurality of slot machine reels of a slots game, each of said slot machine reels having a plurality of slot machine symbols;

a player interface unit capable of receiving audio and visual input from a tournament player, said player interface unit comprising a digital imaging device; and

a gaming unit controller operatively coupled to said plurality of slot machine reels of a slots game and said player interface unit, said gaming unit controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said gaming unit controller,

said gaming unit controller being programmed to cause player data to be transmitted from said one gaming unit to said host computer during said gaming tournament, said player data including player visual data generated based on visual input received by said player interface unit during said gaming tournament;

said gaming unit controller being programmed to allow one of said tournament players to make a wager,

said gaming unit controller being programmed to allow one of said tournament players to make a payline selection, and

said gaming unit controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said slots game, said gaming unit controller being programmed to determine said outcome of said slots game based on a configuration of said slot machine symbols;

wherein said processor of said host computer controller is programmed to cause visual images to be displayed on said video display unit, said visual images generated based on said player visual data.

58. A gaming system as defined in claim 57, wherein said player interface unit further comprises an audio input device, said player interface unit further capable of receiving audio input from the tournament player;

wherein said player data includes player audio data generated based on audio input received by said player interface unit during said gaming tournament;

wherein said host computer further comprises a sound generating device; and

wherein said processor of said host computer controller is programmed to cause sound generated from said player audio data to be broadcast by said sound generating device.

59. A gaming system as defined in claim 57, wherein said gaming system additionally comprises a game display unit, and wherein said slot machine reels comprise simulated slot machine reels in the form of slot machine reel images shown on said game display unit.

60. The gaming system as defined in claim 57, wherein said player interface unit comprises a player identification-device that is capable of providing an identity of said tournament player, and wherein said gaming unit controller is programmed to store player identity data.