Gaming device operable to faciliate audio output via a headset and methods related thereto

• US 20060025206A1
• Filed: 10/14/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Daniel E., Fincham, Magdalena M., Tulley, Stephen C., Tedesco, Robert C., Walker, Jay S.
• Application Number:
  US11/251,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20060025206A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• 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

Abstract

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a first audio or first type of audio is output via a first audio output element (e.g., a speaker) of a gaming device and a second audio or second type of audio is output via a second audio output element (e.g., a headset or ultrasonic speaker) of a gaming device. In one embodiment, the first type of audio is game related audio audible to general passersby of the gaming device while the second type of audio is only audible to a qualified player (e.g., a player utilizing the second audio output device, a player who has registered, paid and/or otherwise qualified for the second type of audio, a player associated with the second audio output device, etc) and is not audible to general passersby of the gaming device. The second type of audio may comprise, for example, hints or tips for playing a game, music, news, sportscasts, promotional offers, jokes and/or conversations with other persons (e.g., via a landline or cellular telephone connection).

Claims

1. A method comprising:

outputting a first audio via at least one speaker of a gaming device operable to facilitate a wagering game; and

outputting the first audio and a second audio via a headset associated with the gaming device, the headset being distinct from the speaker and the second audio being distinct from the first audio.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that a headset associated with a gaming device is active; and

outputting the second audio via the headset upon determining that the headset is active.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second audio is unavailable for output via the at least one speaker, such that the second audio may only be received by a player via the headset.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the outputting of the second audio via the headset is authorized; and

only outputting the second audio via the headset if the outputting of the second audio via the headset is authorized.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining whether the outputting of the second audio via the headset is authorized comprises:

determining an identifier associated with a player currently playing the gaming device; and

determining, based on the identifier, whether the player qualifies for the second audio.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the identifier associated with the player comprises at least one of an identifier of a player tracking card inserted into the gaming device and an identifier of a headset.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein determining whether the outputting of the second audio via the headset is authorized comprises:

determining whether the player has satisfied a condition for output of the second audio.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining whether the player has satisfied a condition for output of the second audio comprises:

determining whether the player has provided payment for at least one of the second audio and use of the headset.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein determining whether the player has satisfied a condition for output of the second audio comprises:

determining whether at least one characteristic of the player'"'"'s play of the gaming device satisfies the condition.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one characteristic of the player'"'"'s play of the gaming device comprises at least one of:

a speed with which the player is participating in game plays at the gaming device;

a time between game plays the player is participating in at the gaming device;

a wager per game play that the player is wagering at the gaming device;

a number of paylines the player is wagering per game play at the gaming device; and

at least one choice indicated by the player during a game play the player participated in at the gaming device.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein determining whether the player has satisfied a condition for output of the second audio comprises:

determining whether the player has previously registered for output of the second audio.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein determining whether the player has satisfied the condition for output of the second audio is performed prior to an initial output of the second audio during a play session participated in by the player at the gaming device.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein determining whether the player has satisfied the condition for output of the second audio is performed after an initial output of the second audio during a play session participated in by the player at the gaming device, the determining being performed in order to determine whether the player continues to satisfy the condition for output of the second audio.

14. The method of claim 4, wherein determining whether the outputting of the second audio is authorized comprises:

receiving an indication of whether the second audio is authorized from another processing device.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving payment for the second audio.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

facilitating tracking of a duration for which the second audio is output.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, to another processing device, at least one indication based on which the duration can be determined.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the first audio comprises primary audio complementing game play of the gaming device and the second audio comprises supplemental audio that is supplemental to the first audio, and further comprising:

selecting the second audio for output from a plurality of supplemental audios available for output.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving from the player an indication of the second audio; and

selecting the second audio based on the indication.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the selecting is based on a selection of the second audio provided by the player prior to initiating play of the gaming device.

21. A method comprising:

outputting a first type of audio via at least one speaker of a gaming device;

determining that a headset associated with the gaming device is active;

determining, from a plurality of available types of audio that are each distinct from the first type of audio, a second type of audio to output via the headset; and

outputting the second type of audio via the headset.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

outputting the first type of audio via the headset.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the first type of audio and the second type of audio are output simultaneously such that a sound of the first type of audio may overlap with a sound of the second type of audio.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein outputting the first type of audio comprises outputting the first type of audio continuously and wherein outputting the second type of audio comprises outputting the second type of audio intermittently.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein outputting the second type of audio intermittently comprises:

determining whether an event for triggering an output of the second type of audio has occurred, and outputting the second type of audio upon determining that the even has occurred.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein determining the second type of audio comprises:

determining an identifier of a player associated with at least one of current play of the gaming device and the headset; and

determining the second type of audio based on the player identifier.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein determining the second type of audio based on the player identifier comprises:

determining a second type of audio that the player has registered for.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein determining the second type of audio based on the player identifier comprises:

determining at least one preference associated with the player; and

determining the second type of audio based on the preference.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein determining the second type of audio based on the player identifier comprises:

determining at least one characteristic associated with current play of the gaming device; and

determining the second type of audio based on the at least one characteristic.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises at least one of:

a current time;

a denomination of the gaming device;

a type of the gaming device;

a game playable on the gaming device;

a skill level of the player;

an experience level of the player;

a manufacturer of the gaming device;

a benefit previously earned by the player; and

a level of activity.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the level of activity comprises at least one of:

a level of activity of the gaming device;

a level of activity associated with the player; and

a level of activity of at least an area of a casino in which the gaming device is located.

32. A gaming device, comprising:

a processor operable to facilitate a wagering game; and

a memory, the memory storing a program for directing the gaming device to perform at least one function;

at least one speaker controlled by the processor;

wherein the processor further operable with the program to;

output a first audio via the at least one speaker; and

output a second audio that is distinct from the first audio via a headset associated with the gaming device.

33. The gaming device of claim 32, wherein the first audio comprises game related audio that is audible to all players within a vicinity of the gaming device;

and

wherein the second audio comprises private audio that is only audible to a player listening to the second audio via the headset.

34. The gaming device of claim 32, wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:

determine whether the headset is active; and

only output the second audio via the headset if the headset is active.

35. The gaming device of claim 32, wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:

determine whether a player currently playing the gaming device qualifies to receive the output of the second audio via the headset; and

only output the second audio via the headset if the player qualifies.

36. The gaming device of claim 35, wherein the processor being operable with the program to determine whether the player qualifies to receive the output of the second audio comprises determining at least one of:

determining whether the player has previously completed a registration process associated with the second audio;

determining whether the player has prepaid for the second audio;

determining whether the player has provided a means for charging the player for the second audio; and

determining whether a manner in which the player is playing the gaming device satisfies at least one criteria for outputting the second audio.

37. A device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, the memory storing a program for directing the device to perform a plurality of functions, the processor being operable with the program to;

cause audio to be output via a gaming device that is operable to facilitate a wagering game;

determine that a headset associated with the gaming device is active; and

cause, based on the determination that the headset is active, the output of the audio being output via the gaming device to be altered.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein the device comprises the gaming device.

39. The gaming device of claim 37, wherein the processor being operable with the program to alter the output of the audio comprises:

outputting supplementary audio via the headset, the supplementary audio being supplementary to primary audio being output via at least one speaker of the gaming device that is distinct from the headset.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein both the primary audio and the supplementary audio is output via the headset.

41. The gaming device of claim 37, wherein the processor being operable with the program to alter the output of the audio comprises:

the processor being operable with the program to adjust an audio parameter.

42. The gaming device of claim 37, wherein the processor being operable with the program to alter the output of the audio comprises:

alter the output of the audio content based on at least one preference associated with a player currently playing the gaming device.