Media enhanced gaming system

• US 20060019751A1
• Filed: 07/20/2005
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games Corporation
• Original Assignee: Scientific Games International Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Garcia, Thomas Eugene
• Granted Patent: US 7,621,814 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 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

An integrated group of systems, processes, and controls that enable real-time/near real-time media (video and audio) enhancement and capabilities in a gaming environment. Media from a variety of sources may be streamed or pushed to either individual gaming terminal devices, a group of these devices, or an entire network of such units. Additional system functionality allows for two-way interactive visual and audio communications between gaming terminal users/operators and call center personnel as well as providing a standard interface to interact with existing retail sales-oriented equipment that may exist at the installation location.

Claims

1. A system for providing media to users at secure remote gaming locations, comprising:

one or more secure gaming terminals located at remote locations on a communication network, the one or more secure gaming terminals each allowing a user to play and wager in a game of chance;

at least one media server on the communication network, the media server determining the usable media for the one or more secure gaming terminals; and

one or more media feeds selectively feeding media to the media server, the media server selectively distributing the appropriate media content from the one or more media feeds to the one or more secure gaming terminals.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the media feed is live video.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the media feed is stored media.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising an assistance server on the network to selectively provide requested support to the one or more secure gaming terminals.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the assistance server is a telephone call center.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system utilizes internet protocol (IP) on the communication network.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the game of chance is a lottery game.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the game of chance is a sporting event.

9. A method of for providing media to users at secure remote gaming locations, comprising the steps of:

hosting a game of chance at one or more secure gaming terminals located at remote locations on a communication network, the one or more terminals each allowing a user to play and wager in the game of chance;

feeding media content from one or media feeds to a media server, the media server determining the usable media for the one or more secure terminals; and

distributing the appropriate media content from the media server to the one or more secure gaming terminals during the game of chance.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the steps of feeding media content and distributing the appropriate media content is feeding and distributing live video.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the steps of feeding media content and distributing the appropriate media content is feeding and distributing stored media.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of providing support from an assistance server on the network to the one or more secure gaming terminals.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the assistance server is a telephone call center and the step of providing support is providing telephonic assistance.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of hosting game of chance is hosting a lottery game.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of hosting a game of chance is relaying data relative to a sporting event.

16. A system for providing media to users at secure remote gaming locations, comprising:

at least one gaming means located at a remote locations on a communication network, the gaming means for allowing a user to play and wager in a game of chance;

at least one media serving means on the communication network, the media serving means for determining the usable media for the at least one gaming means; and

at least one media feeding means for selectively feeding media content to the media serving means,

wherein the at least one media serving means selectively distributing the appropriate media content from the at least one media feeding means to the at least one gaming means.