Wireless operation of a game device

• US 20060046849A1
• Filed: 08/16/2005
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Kovacs, James K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,241,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/39
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication

Abstract

A gaming device which can be operated by wireless signals provided by a remote control unit or device after an initialization process. The initialization process insures that the initialized gaming device accepts signals solely from the initialized remote control unit and that other players are prevented from operating the gaming device using a different remote control unit. The wireless signals contain gaming commands for play of a primary wagering game as well as player identification and/or player tracking information.

Claims

1. A gaming device operable under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a primary game operable under control of a processor, said gaming device operable upon a wager by a player;

a display device operable to display said primary wagering game;

a signal generator operable with said processor, said signal generator operable to generate at least one gaming device wireless signal;

a signal transmitter operable with said signal generator to transmit said generated gaming device wireless signal to a remote control unit; and

a signal receiver operable with said processor, said signal receiver operable to receive at least one remote control wireless signal generated from the remote control unit after an initialization process between the processor and the remote control unit, wherein said processor is operable to execute at least one gaming device function which is based on said remote control wireless signal received from said initialized remote control unit.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the signal receiver is operable to receive radio signals.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the signal receiver is operable to receive infrared signals.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the signal receiver is operable to receive wireless signals representing player related information.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the signal receiver is operable to receive wireless signals representing gaming commands for operation of the primary game.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes an input slot in a housing of the gaming device, wherein said input slot is positioned adjacent to the signal receiver and sized to removably receive at least a portion of the remote control unit.

7. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein the initialization process requires the remote control unit to be inserted in the input slot.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to verify information transferred from the remote control unit with information received from a remote source.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the initialization process requires a player input of a security code into the remote control unit.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the signal receiver is operable to detect the remote control unit and automatically begin said initialization process.

11. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the information represented by the gaming device wireless signal is displayable on a display of the remote control unit.

12. A gaming device operable under control of processor, said gaming device comprising:

a housing;

a primary game operable upon a wager by a player;

a display device connected to said housing and operable to display said primary wagering game;

an input slot defined by said housing, wherein said input slot is configured to receive at least part of a removable remote control device; and

a signal receiver connected to said housing,

wherein the processor is operable with said display device and said signal receiver to;

(a) execute an initialization process between the signal receiver and the remote control device when the remote control device is inserted in the input slot;

(b) receive at least one wireless signal generated from the initialized remote control device;

(c) execute at least one gaming device command associated with a play of said primary game in response to said received wireless signal, wherein said gaming device command is at least partially based on said received wireless signal; and

(d) provide any award to the player for said play of the primary game.

13. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the wireless signal encodes a plurality of gaming commands for said primary game.

14. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the wireless signal encodes player information.

15. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the signal receiver is operable to receive radio signals.

16. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the signal receiver is operable to receive infrared signals.

17. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the processor is operable to verify information transferred from the initialized remote control device with information received from a remote source.

18. A gaming device operable under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a primary game operable upon a wager by a player;

a display device operable to display said primary game; and

a signal receiver,

wherein the processor is operable with said display device and said signal receiver to;

(a) execute an initialization process employing the signal receiver and a first remote control device such no other remote control device can operate said gaming device until said first remote control device is done operating said gaming device;

(b) receive at least one wireless signal from the initialized first remote control device, wherein said wireless signal represents player information;

(c) provide at least one display based on at least part of the received player information; and

(d) provide any award to the player resulting from a play the primary game.

19. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein the signal receiver is operable to receive radio signals.

20. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein the signal receiver is operable to receive infrared signals.

21. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein the player information is a gaming command.

22. A remote control unit operable with a gaming device having a primary wagering game, said remote control unit comprising:

a housing;

a processor supported by the housing; and

a signal generator supported by the housing and operable with said processor, said signal generator operable to generate at least one remote control wireless signal to operate at least part of the primary wagering game of the gaming device after an initialization process between said gaming device and the processor;

a signal transmitter operable with said signal generator to transmit the generated remote control wireless signal; and

a signal receiver operable with said processor, the signal receiver operable to receive at least one gaming device wireless signal generated from said gaming device after the initialization process.

23. The remote control unit of claim 22, wherein the signal is a radio signal.

24. The remote control unit of claim 22, wherein the signal is an infrared signal.

25. The remote control unit of claim 22, wherein the remote control wireless signal encodes a gaming command.

26. The remote control unit of claim 22, wherein the remote control wireless signal encodes player information.

27. The remote control unit of claim 22, which includes at least one display operable with said processor.

28. The remote control unit of claim 27, wherein the display is operable to display gaming information.

29. The remote control unit of claim 27, wherein the display is operable to display an advertisement.

30. The remote control unit of claim 27, wherein the display is operable to display a personal message obtained from an external source.

31. The remote control unit of claim 22, which includes a memory device operable to store player information.

32. The remote control unit of claim 22, wherein said initialization process requires a player input of a security code into the remote control unit.