Player tracking interfaces and services on a gaming machine

• US 20050261059A1
• Filed: 07/21/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Binh T., Paulsen, Craig A.
• Application Number:
  US11/188,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20050261059A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/40
• 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 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• 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 disclosed a player tracking unit provides a touch screen display with a touch screen controller integrated into the touch screen sensor assembly. Game service interfaces may be presented on the touch screen display that allow a user to obtain one or more game services. With the touch screen sensor, a user may navigate through the game service interface and supply information required to obtain a game service.

Claims

1. A player tracking unit comprising:

a display for displaying video images;

a touch screen including;

a touch screen sensor mounted over the display;

a touch screen controller for detecting an activation of the touch screen sensor and for sending input signals with information indicating an activated location on the touch screen sensor;

a sound projection device wherein the sound projection device is adapted for outputting sound messages in response to operations performed on the player tracking unit by a user;

a card reader for reading a player tracking card storing player tracking information;

a logic device adapted for;

a) communicating with the display, the touch screen, the card reader, the sound projection device, a master gaming controller that controls a game played on a gaming machine and a player tracking server,

b) receiving input signals from the touch screen controller with the information indicating the activated location on the touch screen sensor;

c) providing video images on the display for a list of game services available on the player tracking unit;

d) generating video images for a plurality game surface interfaces on the display, each game service interface including at least one input area and corresponding to one of the game services available on the player tracking unit, wherein the plurality of game service interfaces includes a key pad interface for entering alpha-numeric data;

e) generating input data corresponding to touches in the input area;

f) communicating with a portable wireless device via the wireless interface device wherein the player tracking unit is operable to send the loyalty program information to the portable wireless device and to receive loyalty program information from the portable wireless device; and

a housing for securing the display, the sound projection device, the card reader and the logic device.

2. A player tracking unit comprising:

a display for displaying video images;

a touch screen including;

a touch screen sensor mounted over the display;

a touch screen controller for detecting an activation of the touch screen sensor and for sending input signals with information indicating an activated location on the touch screen sensor;

a sound projection device wherein the sound projection device is adapted for outputting sound messages in response to operations performed on the player tracking unit by a user;

a card reader for reading a player tracking card storing player tracking information;

a wireless interface device for communicating with a portable wireless device;

a logic device adapted for;

a) communicating with the display, the touch screen, the card reader, the sound projection device, the wireless interface device, a master gaming controller adapted for controlling a game played on a gaming machine and a remote server,

b) receiving input signals from the touch screen controller with the information indicating the activated location on the touch screen sensor;

c) providing video images on the display for a list of game services available on the player tracking unit;

d) generating video images for a plurality game surface interfaces on the display, each game service interface including at least one input area and corresponding to one of the game services available on the player tracking unit, wherein the plurality of game service interfaces includes a key pad interface for entering alpha-numeric data;

e) generating input data corresponding to touches in the input area;

f) communicating with the portable wireless device via the wireless interface device wherein the player tracking unit is operable to send the loyalty program information to the portable wireless device, to receive loyalty program information from the portable wireless device or combinations thereof; and

one more mounting mechanisms for coupling the player tracking unit to the gaming machine.

3. A player tracking unit comprising:

a display for displaying video images;

a touch screen including;

a touch screen sensor mounted proximate to the display;

a touch screen controller for detecting an activation of the touch screen sensor and for sending input signals with information indicating an activated location on the touch screen sensor;

a card reader for reading a player tracking card storing player tracking information;

a wireless interface device for communicating with a portable wireless device;

a logic device adapted for;

a) communicating with the display, the touch screen, the card reader, the wireless interface device, a master gaming controller adapted for controlling a game played on a gaming machine and a remote server,

b) receiving input signals from the touch screen controller with the information indicating the activated location on the touch screen sensor;

c) providing video images on the display for a list of game services available on the player tracking unit;

d) generating video images for a plurality game surface interfaces on the display, each game service interface including at least one input area and corresponding to one of the game services available on the player tracking unit, wherein the plurality of game service interfaces includes a key pad interface for entering alpha-numeric data;

e) generating input data corresponding to touches in the input area;

f) communicating with the portable wireless device via the wireless interface device wherein the player tracking unit is operable to send the loyalty program information to the portable wireless device, to receive loyalty program information from the portable wireless device or combinations thereof; and

one more mounting mechanisms for coupling the player tracking unit to the gaming machine.

4. The player tracking unit of claim 3, further comprising:

a sound projection device wherein the logic device is further adapted for communicating with the sound projection device.

5. The player tracking unit of claim 4, wherein the logic device is further adapted for outputting one or more of voice messages, sound messages or music via the sound projection device.

6. The player tracking unit of claim 5, wherein the voice messages, sound messages or music are generated in response to operations performed on the player tracking unit by a user.

7. The player tracking unit of claim 5, wherein the voices messages, sound messages or music are generated to correspond to the video images shown on the display.

8. The player tracking unit of claim 5, wherein the voice messages, the sound messages or the music are generated in response to an operation of an input mechanism coupled to the player tracking unit.

9. The player tracking unit of claim 4, further comprising:

a memory device for storing an audio layout for each the plurality of game service interfaces wherein the audio layout provides a mapping of sounds that are generated on the sound projection device when each of the input areas on each of the game service interfaces are activated.

10. A player tracking unit comprising:

a display for displaying video images;

a touch screen including;

a touch screen sensor mounted proximate to the display;

a touch screen controller for detecting an activation of the touch screen sensor and for sending input signals with information indicating an activated location on the touch screen sensor;

an input mechanism separate from the display and the touch screen adapted for inputting player tracking information;

a wireless interface device for communicating with a portable wireless device; and

a logic device adapted for;

a) communicating with the display, the touch screen, the input mechanism, the wireless interface device, a master gaming controller adapted for controlling a game played on a gaming machine and a remote server,

b) receiving input signals from the touch screen controller with the information indicating the activated location on the touch screen sensor;

c) providing video images on the display for a list of game services available on the player tracking unit;

d) generating video images for a plurality game surface interfaces on the display, each game service interface including at least one input area and corresponding to one of the game services available on the player tracking unit, wherein the plurality of game service interfaces includes a key pad interface for entering alpha-numeric data;

e) generating input data corresponding to touches in the input area;

f) communicating with the portable wireless device via the wireless interface device wherein the player tracking unit is operable to send the loyalty program information to the portable wireless device, to receive loyalty program information from the portable wireless device or combinations thereof.

11. The player tracking unit of claim 10, wherein the portable wireless device is a cell phone, a hand-held computing device or a wireless communication enabled card.

12. The player tracking unit of claim 10, wherein the player tracking unit comprises a plurality of peripheral devices including the display and the touch screen wherein at least one of the peripheral devices is operable to communicate with the logic device, the master gaming controller or combinations thereof via a wireless communication connection.

13. The player tracking unit of claim 10, further comprising a wireless network interface wherein the logic device is further adapted for communicating with the remote server via the wireless network interface.

14. The player tracking unit of claim 10, wherein the key pad interface is used to enter additional information for allowing access to one or more the game services provided on the player tracking unit.

15. The player tracking unit of claim 14, wherein the additional information is a PIN number or an alpha-numeric password.

16. The player tracking unit of claim 10, wherein the input mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a microphone, a camera, a button pad, a bar-code reader, a retinal scanner, smart card reader, a card reader and a finger print reader.

17. The player tracking unit of claim 10, further comprising:

a sound projection device wherein the logic device is further adapted for communicating with the sound projection device.

18. The player tracking unit of claim 17, wherein the logic device is further adapted for outputting one or more of voice messages, sound messages or music via the sound projection device.

19. The player tracking unit of claim 10, further comprising:

a biometric input device for receiving biometric information from a user.

20. The player tracking unit of claim 10, wherein the logic device is further adapted for displaying a stream of video images used in a video program.

21. The player tracking unit of claim 20, further comprising:

a display controller for outputting the video images including the stream of video images used in a video program to the display.

22. The player tracking unit of claim 20, further comprising a mass storage device for storing the video program.

23. The player tracking unit of claim 20, wherein the logic device is further adapted for displaying the video program streamed from a remote gaming device.

24. The player tracking unit of claim 10, wherein the logic device is further adapted for generating a metering information interface on the display for viewing metering information from the gaming machine.

25. The player tracking unit of claim 10, wherein the logic device is further adapted for generating an entertainment content interface on the display for selecting an entertainment content source to be output on said player tracking unit.

26. The player tracking unit of claim 10, wherein the logic device is further adapted for generating a web interface on the display for viewing web pages from a remote device.

27. The player tracking unit of claim 10, wherein the logic device is further adapted for generating a reservation interface on the display for making a reservation for at least one of food, lodging and entertainment.

28. The player tracking unit of claim 10, wherein the wherein the logic device is further adapted for generating a communication interface on the display for communicating with another person.

29. The player tracking unit of claim 10, wherein the logic device is further adapted for generating an account interface on the display for transferring funds between an account and the gaming machine.

30. The player tracking unit of claim 10, wherein the logic device is further adapted for generating a bonus interface on the display for presenting a bonus game.

31. The player tracking unit of claim 10, wherein the logic device is further adapted for generating a loyalty account interface on the display for viewing at least loyalty account information.

32. A gaming machine comprising:

a master gaming controller adapted for controlling a game played on the gaming machine and for communicating with a player tracking unit coupled to the gaming machine; and

the player tracking unit comprising;

a display for displaying video images;

a touch screen including;

a touch screen sensor mounted proximate to the display;

a touch screen controller for detecting an activation of the touch screen sensor and for sending input signals with information indicating an activated location on the touch screen sensor;

an input mechanism separate from the display and the touch screen adapted for inputting player tracking information;

a wireless interface device for communicating with a portable wireless device; and

a logic device adapted for;

a) communicating with the display, the touch screen, the input mechanism, the wireless interface device, the master gaming controller and a remote server,

b) receiving input signals from the touch screen controller with the information indicating the activated location on the touch screen sensor;

c) providing video images on the display for a list of game services available on the player tracking unit;

d) generating video images for a plurality game surface interfaces on the display, each game service interface including at least one input area and corresponding to one of the game services available on the player tracking unit, wherein the plurality of game service interfaces includes a key pad interface for entering alpha-numeric data;

e) generating input data corresponding to touches in the input area;

f) communicating with the portable wireless device via the wireless interface device wherein the player tracking unit is operable to send the loyalty program information to the portable wireless device, to receive loyalty program information from the portable wireless device or combinations thereof.

33. A player tracking system comprising:

a remote server;

a plurality of portable wireless devices;

a plurality of gaming machines, said gaming machines each comprising;

a master gaming controller adapted for controlling a game played on the gaming machine and for communicating with a player tracking unit connected to the gaming machine; and

the player tracking unit comprising;

a display for displaying video images;

a touch screen including;

a touch screen sensor mounted proximate to the display;

a touch screen controller for detecting an activation of the touch screen sensor and for sending input signals with information indicating an activated location on the touch screen sensor;

an input mechanism separate from the display and the touch screen adapted for inputting player tracking information;

a wireless interface device for communicating with the portable wireless devices; and

a logic device adapted for;

a) communicating with the display, the touch screen, the input mechanism, the wireless interface device, the master gaming controller and a remote server,

b) receiving input signals from the touch screen controller with the information indicating the activated location on the touch screen sensor;

c) providing video images on the display for a list of game services available on the player tracking unit;

d) generating video images for a plurality game surface interfaces on the display, each game service interface including at least one input area and corresponding to one of the game services available on the player tracking unit, wherein the plurality of game service interfaces includes a key pad interface for entering alpha-numeric data;

e) generating input data corresponding to touches in the input area;

f) communicating with the portable wireless device via the wireless interface device wherein the player tracking unit is operable to send the loyalty program information to the portable wireless device, to receive loyalty program information from the portable wireless device or combinations thereof.

34. A player tracking unit comprising:

a display for displaying video images;

a touch screen including;

a touch screen sensor mounted proximate to the display;

a touch screen controller for detecting an activation of the touch screen sensor and for sending input signals with information indicating an activated location on the touch screen sensor;

an input mechanism separate from the display and the touch screen adapted for inputting player tracking information;

one or more wireless interface devices operable to provide wireless communication connections for communicating with

     1) a master gaming controller adapted for controlling a game of chance on a gaming machine,

     2) a remote server or

     3) combinations thereof; and

a logic device adapted for;

a) communicating with the display, the touch screen, the input mechanism and the one or more wireless interface devices,

b) receiving input signals from the touch screen controller with the information indicating the activated location on the touch screen sensor;

c) providing video images on the display for a list of game services available on the player tracking unit;

d) generating video images for a plurality game surface interfaces on the display, each game service interface including at least one input area and corresponding to one of the game services available on the player tracking unit, wherein the plurality of game service interfaces includes a key pad interface for entering alpha-numeric data;

e) generating input data corresponding to touches in the input area;

f) communicating with the

     1) master gaming controller,

     2) the remote server or

     3) combinations thereof via the wireless interface.

35. The player tracking unit of claim 34, wherein the one or more wireless interface devices are further operable to provide the wireless communication connections to portable wireless devices.