Dynamic player notices for operational changes in gaming machines

• US 20050282638A1
• Filed: 07/06/2005
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Rowe, Richard E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,636,596 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 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

A gaming terminal data repository (GTDR) for storing game software components and transaction information for gaming machine and gaming terminals is disclosed. A system database is partitioned according to different gaming entities allowing game software component configurations of particular gaming terminals to be easily analyzed and modified. Game software components for gaming terminals connected to the GTDR may be automatically updated using various triggers. System gaming machines may utilize a combination of game software components residing on the gaming machine and those received from the GTDR. A player compliance module (PCM) can be adapted to detect significant changes to gaming machine or gaming terminal playing conditions or parameters, and provide appropriate notices to players of such changes dynamically. The PCM can also facilitate the creation of a log or audit trail to confirm that such player notices have been provided.

Claims

1. A gaming system, comprising:

a gaming terminal data repository having a first network interface adapted to communicate with one or more gaming terminals, a memory arranged to store both gaming terminal transaction information received from said one or more gaming terminals and game software components for use by said one or more gaming terminals, and a processor configured to download one or more game software components to said one or more gaming terminals, wherein said one or more game software components comply with the rules of a gaming jurisdiction in which a respective receiving gaming terminal is located;

a plurality of gaming terminals in communication with said gaming terminal data repository and adapted to present games of chance involving wagers and monetary payouts that are regulated by one or more gaming jurisdictions in which each respective gaming terminal is located, wherein at least a first gaming terminal of said plurality of gaming terminals includes a second network interface adapted to communicate with said gaming terminal data repository, a controller configured both to generate a game of chance played on said first gaming terminal using one or more game software components downloaded from said gaming terminal data repository and to send gaming terminal transaction information to said gaming terminal data repository, and a memory adapted to store said one or more game software components downloaded from said gaming terminal data repository; and

a player compliance module adapted to facilitate both the detection of at least one changed operational condition at said first gaming terminal and the provision of information regarding said at least one changed operational condition to a player of said first gaming terminal.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said gaming terminal comprises a gaming machine.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said player compliance module comprises software located at said first gaming terminal.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said player compliance module comprises software located at said gaming terminal data repository.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said player compliance module is further adapted to facilitate the creation of a record or audit trail containing details regarding said detection and said provision of notice to said player.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said information provided to said player comprises one or more fully or partially pre-rendered message frames.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said information provided to said player comprises content sufficient to satisfy a player notice requirement or regulation of a gaming jurisdiction in which said first gaming terminal is located.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein a game of chance at said first gaming terminal cannot be played while said information provided to said player remains displayed at said first gaming terminal.

9. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein said information provided to said player remains displayed until an affirmative player input to remove said information is received at said first gaming terminal.

10. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein said affirmative player input to remove said information comprises an acknowledgement or acceptance by said player of said at least one changed operational condition.

11. A gaming machine adapted for accepting a wager, playing a game based on the wager and granting a monetary payout based on the result of the game, the gaming machine comprising:

an exterior housing arranged to contain a plurality of internal gaming machine components therein;

a master gaming controller in communication with at least one of said plurality of internal gaming machine components, said master gaming controller being adapted to execute or control one or more aspects of said game, wherein said master gaming controller is also adapted to communicate with a gaming terminal data repository external to said gaming machine; and

a player compliance module in communication with said master gaming controller, at least one of said plurality of internal gaming machine components, or both, wherein said player compliance module is adapted to facilitate the provision of information to a player of said gaming machine regarding one or more operational changes of said gaming machine, said one or more operational changes resulting at least in part from communications from said gaming terminal data repository.

12. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein said information provided to said player comprises one or more of a) a full display disclosing all details of all changed operational conditions, b) an informational notice having a limited level of detail regarding said at least one changed operational condition, and c) a minimalist alert that one or more changes have taken place, said minimalist alert having little to no detail regarding said at least one changed operational condition.

13. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein said information provided to said player is presented at one or more of a main video screen, a secondary video screen, a tertiary video screen, a virtual glass, and a speaker.

14. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein said player compliance module is unalterable.

15. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein said player compliance module is further adapted to facilitate the creation of a record or audit trail containing details regarding said detection and said provision of notice to said player.

16. The gaming machine of claim 15, wherein at least one entry to said record or audit trail comprises data regarding an amount of idle time prior at said gaming machine prior to said at least one changed operational condition.

17. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein said information provided to said player comprises one or more fully or partially pre-rendered message frames.

18. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein said player compliance module is further adapted to facilitate the creation of a record or audit trail containing details regarding said detection and said provision of notice to said player, wherein said record or audit trail includes data regarding said one or more fully or partially pre-rendered message frames.

19. The gaming machine of claim 18, wherein said data regarding said one or more fully or partially pre-rendered message frames is selected from the group consisting of frame identification, presentation time, size, duration and location.

20. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein said information provided to said player comprises content sufficient to satisfy a player notice requirement or regulation of a gaming jurisdiction in which said gaming machine is located.

21. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein said information provided to said player comprises information selected from the group consisting of:

new game information, new download information, paytable information, game denomination, presentation speed, payback percentage, game hold, harm minimization information, and instructions on how to view more information related to said at least one changed operational condition.

22. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein said information provided to said player remains displayed at said gaming machine for twenty seconds or less.

23. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein no game of chance can be played at said gaming machine while said information provided to said player remains displayed at said gaming machine.

24. The gaming machine of claim 23, wherein said information provided to said player remains displayed until an affirmative player input to remove said information is received at said gaming machine.

25. The gaming machine of claim 24, wherein said affirmative player input to remove said information comprises an acknowledgement or acceptance by said player of said at least one changed operational condition.

26. A gaming terminal data repository, comprising:

a network interface adapted to communicate with a first gaming terminal located separate from said gaming terminal data repository, said first gaming terminal being adapted to accept wagers, play games based on said wagers, and provide monetary awards based on the outcomes of said games;

a memory arranged to store gaming terminal transaction information received from said first gaming terminal and game software components for use by said first gaming terminal, wherein at least one of said game software components stored at said gaming terminal data repository memory is not also stored at said first gaming terminal; and

a processor designed or configured;

i) to update game software components on said first gaming terminal using one or more update triggers, ii) to receive game software component information from said first gaming terminal, wherein the game software component information describes game software components stored on said first gaming terminal, and iii) to download game software components adapted to present a game of chance to said first gaming terminal,

wherein the gaming terminal data repository is adapted to;

determine a first gaming jurisdiction where said first gaming terminal is located, generate instructions for configuring game software components that comply with rules of said first gaming jurisdiction, and send the instructions for configuring the game software components to said first gaming terminal.

27. The gaming terminal data repository of claim 26, further comprising:

a player compliance module adapted to facilitate the provision of information to a player of said first gaming terminal regarding one or more operational changes of said first gaming terminal, said one or more operational changes resulting at least in part from communications from said gaming terminal data repository.

28. A method of providing dynamic player notices at a gaming terminal adapted for accepting a wager, playing a game based on the wager and granting a monetary payout based on an outcome of the game, the method comprising:

accepting a communication at said gaming terminal from a remotely located and independent network device;

detecting at least one significant operational change at said gaming terminal resulting from said communication;

associating said at least one significant operational change with one or more dynamic player notices, said one or more dynamic player notices having an adequate amount of information regarding said at least one significant operational change; and

displaying said one or more dynamic player notices at a display located at said gaming terminal.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of:

recording details regarding said at least one significant operational change and the display of said one or more dynamic player notices to a saved record or log.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of:

providing a player compliance module adapted to perform or facilitate the performance of the steps of detecting, associating and displaying.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein said display is selected from the group consisting of a main video screen, a secondary video screen, a tertiary video screen, a virtual glass, and a speaker of said gaming terminal.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein said one or more dynamic player notices comprise one or more fully or partially pre-rendered message frames.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein said one or more dynamic player notices comprise content sufficient to satisfy a player notice requirement or regulation of a gaming jurisdiction in which said gaming terminal is located.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein said one or more dynamic player notices comprise information selected from the group consisting of:

new game information, new download information, paytable information, game denomination, presentation speed, payback percentage, game hold, harm minimization information, and instructions on how to view more information related to said at least one significant operational change.

35. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of:

prompting a player to provide an affirmative player input to remove at least one of said one or more dynamic player notices.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said affirmative player input comprises an acknowledgement or acceptance by said player of said at least one significant operational change.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of:

preventing the play of any wager based game at said gaming terminal until said affirmative player input is provided by said player.