User interface system and method for a gaming machine

• US 20060068906A1
• Filed: 09/16/2004
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Morrow, James, Dimichele, Carmen
• Granted Patent: US 7,950,999 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/30
• 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

Abstract

An embedded additional user interface 10 includes a web page display screen 20 and an embedded processor 30, and is incorporated into a gaming machine 40 that in turn includes a gaming screen 50 and a gaming processor 60. The embedded processor 30 employs an internal operating system and communicates with the gaming processor 60. The embedded processor reads incoming data, translates the data into a web authoring language, and maps the data to the web page display screen. The display screen 20 presents web page information to a user via the display screen, thereby increasing user excitement by providing a richer gaming experience. This provides a dramatic improvement over traditional system components 70 (input/output peripherals) that have been used in the past to access service and system information, such as a 2-line, 20-character VF display and a 12-digit keypad.

Claims

1. An embedded additional user interface incorporated into a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a gaming presentation and gaming processor, the embedded additional user interface comprising:

a web content capable display screen, wherein the display screen presents web information to a user via the display screen; and

an embedded processor that employs an internal operating system and communicates with the gaming processor, wherein the embedded processor reads incoming data, translates the data into a web protocol, if necessary, and maps the data to the web content capable display screen;

whereby the web content capable display screen increases user excitement by providing a richer gaming experience.

2. The embedded additional user interface of claim 1, wherein the incoming data is a serial communication message.

3. The embedded additional user interface of claim 1, wherein the embedded processor communicates with the gaming processor over an I²C bus.

4. The embedded additional user interface of claim 1, wherein the web content capable display screen is a color graphic touch screen display.

5. The embedded additional user interface of claim 1, wherein the embedded processor is at least a 32-bit processor.

6. The embedded additional user interface of claim 1, wherein the internal operating system is customized to match the specific hardware to which the internal operating system attaches.

7. The embedded additional user interface of claim 1, wherein the embedded processor utilizes cryptographic technology.

8. The embedded additional user interface of claim 1, wherein the content offers a certification process for authentication and non-repudiation.

9. The embedded additional user interface of claim 1, wherein the certification process provides auditability and traceability.

10. The embedded additional user interface of claim 1, wherein the certification process provides sufficient security for gaming regulators to allow casino operators to design their own content.

11. The embedded additional user interface of claim 1, wherein the web protocol is HTML.

12. The embedded additional user interface of claim 1, wherein the web protocol is DHTML.

13. The embedded additional user interface of claim 1, wherein the web protocol is XML.

14. The embedded additional user interface of claim 1, wherein the embedded enhanced user interface connects to an Ethernet-networked backbone.

15. The embedded additional user interface of claim 1, wherein the embedded enhanced user interface connects to a web server through an Ethernet-networked backbone.

16. An embedded additional user interface for use in a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a gaming presentation and gaming processor, the embedded additional user interface comprising:

an animation capable display screen, wherein the display screen presents animated information to a user via the display screen; and

an embedded processor that employs an internal operating system and communicates with the gaming processor, wherein the embedded processor reads incoming data, translates the data into a web authoring language, if necessary, and maps the data to the animation capable display screen;

whereby the animation capable display screen increases user excitement by providing a richer gaming experience.

17. The embedded additional user interface of claim 16, wherein the incoming data is a serial communication message.

18. The embedded additional user interface of claim 16, wherein the embedded processor communicates with the gaming processor over an I²C bus.

19. The embedded additional user interface of claim 16, wherein the animation capable display screen is a color graphic touch screen display.

20. The embedded additional user interface of claim 16, wherein the embedded processor is at least a 32-bit processor.

21. The embedded additional user interface of claim 16, wherein the internal operating system is customized to match the specific hardware to which the internal operating system attaches.

22. The embedded additional user interface of claim 16, wherein the embedded processor utilizes cryptographic technology.

23. The embedded additional user interface of claim 16, wherein the content offers a certification process for authentication and non-repudiation.

24. The embedded additional user interface of claim 16, wherein the certification process produces signed content that is auditable and traceable.

25. The embedded additional user interface of claim 16, wherein the certification process provides sufficient security for gaming regulators to allow casino operators to design their own content.

26. The embedded additional user interface of claim 16, wherein the web authoring language is HTML.

27. The embedded additional user interface of claim 16, wherein the web authoring language is DHTML.

28. The embedded additional user interface of claim 16, wherein the web authoring language is XML.

29. The embedded additional user interface of claim 16, wherein the embedded enhanced user interface connects to an Ethernet-networked backbone.

30. The embedded additional user interface of claim 16, wherein the embedded enhanced user interface connects to a web server through an Ethernet-networked backbone.

31. An embedded additional user interface for use in a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a gaming presentation and gaming processor, the embedded additional user interface comprising:

a web page display screen, wherein the display screen presents web page information to a user via the display screen; and

an embedded processor that employs an internal operating system and communicates with the gaming processor, wherein the embedded processor reads incoming data, translates the data into a web authoring language, if necessary, and maps the data to the web page display screen;

whereby the web page display screen increases user excitement by providing a richer gaming experience.

32. The embedded additional user interface of claim 31, wherein the incoming data is an serial communication message.

33. The embedded additional user interface of claim 31, wherein the embedded processor communicates with the gaming processor over an I²C bus.

34. The embedded additional user interface of claim 31, wherein the web page display screen is a color graphic touch screen display.

35. The embedded additional user interface of claim 31, wherein the embedded processor is at least a 32-bit processor.

36. The embedded additional user interface of claim 31, wherein the internal operating system is customized to match the specific hardware to which the internal operating system attaches.

37. The embedded additional user interface of claim 31, wherein the embedded processor utilizes cryptographic technology.

38. The embedded additional user interface of claim 31, wherein the content offers a certification process for authentication and non-repudiation.

39. The embedded additional user interface of claim 31, wherein the certification process provides auditability and traceability.

40. The embedded additional user interface of claim 31, wherein the certification process provides sufficient security for gaming regulators to allow casino operators to design their own content.

41. The embedded additional user interface of claim 31, wherein the web authoring language is HTML.

42. The embedded additional user interface of claim 31, wherein the web authoring language is DHTML.

43. The embedded additional user interface of claim 31, wherein the web authoring language is XML.

44. The embedded additional user interface of claim 31, wherein the embedded enhanced user interface connects to an Ethernet-networked backbone.

45. The embedded additional user interface of claim 31, wherein the embedded enhanced user interface connects to a web server through an Ethernet-networked backbone.

46. An embedded additional user interface incorporated into a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a gaming presentation, the embedded additional user interface comprising:

a web content display screen, wherein the display screen presents web content information to a user via the display screen; and

an embedded processor that employs an operating system;

wherein the embedded processor reads incoming data, translates the data into a web authoring language, if necessary, and maps the data to the web content display screen, and wherein the embedded processor additionally includes standard gaming processor functionality;

whereby the web content display screen increases user excitement by providing a richer gaming experience.

47. The embedded additional user interface of claim 46, wherein the incoming data is a serial communication message.

48. The embedded additional user interface of claim 46, wherein the embedded processor communicates with the gaming processor over an I²C bus.

49. The embedded additional user interface of claim 46, wherein the web content display screen is a color graphic touch screen display.

50. The embedded additional user interface of claim 46, wherein the embedded processor is at least a 32-bit processor.

51. The embedded additional user interface of claim 46, wherein the internal operating system is customized to match the specific hardware to which the internal operating system attaches.

52. The embedded additional user interface of claim 46, wherein the embedded processor utilizes cryptographic technology.

53. The embedded additional user interface of claim 46, wherein the content offers a certification process for authentication and non-repudiation.

54. The embedded additional user interface of claim 46, wherein the certification process provides auditability and traceability.

55. The embedded additional user interface of claim 46, wherein the certification process provides sufficient security for gaming regulators to allow casino operators to design their own content.

56. The embedded additional user interface of claim 46, wherein the web authoring language is HTML.

57. The embedded additional user interface of claim 46, wherein the web authoring language is DHTML.

58. The embedded additional user interface of claim 46, wherein the web authoring language is XML.

59. The embedded additional user interface of claim 46, wherein the embedded enhanced user interface connects to an Ethernet-networked backbone.

60. The embedded additional user interface of claim 46, wherein the embedded enhanced user interface connects to a web server through an Ethernet-networked backbone.

61. A gaming machine having a gaming presentation, the gaming machine comprising:

a gaming processor;

a user interface separate from the gaming presentation, the user interface comprising;

a web page display screen, wherein the display screen presents web page information to a user via the display screen; and

an additional processor that communicates with the gaming processor, wherein the additional processor reads incoming data, translates the data into a web authoring language, if necessary, and maps the data to the web page display screen;

whereby the web page display screen increases user excitement by providing a richer gaming experience.

62. A method for increasing user excitement relating to a gaming machine by providing a richer gaming experience via an additional user interface that is incorporated into the gaming machine, wherein the additional user interface includes an additional processor and a web page display screen, the method comprising:

receiving a data message containing enhanced player information over a communication bus in the additional user interface;

translating the data message into a web authoring language, if necessary; and

mapping the data message to the web page display screen, wherein the display screen presents web page information to a user via the display screen.

63. A user interface for use in a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a gaming presentation and gaming processor, the user interface comprising:

a multimedia display screen, wherein the display screen presents web page information to a user via the display screen; and

an additional processor that communicates with the gaming processor, wherein the additional processor reads incoming data, translates the data into a web authoring language, if necessary, and maps the data to the multimedia display screen;

whereby the multimedia display screen increases user excitement by providing a richer gaming experience.

64. A gaming machine having a gaming presentation, the gaming machine comprising:

a user interface separate from the gaming presentation, the user interface including a web page display screen, wherein the display screen presents web page information to a user via the display screen; and

a processor for controlling game play, wherein the processor additionally reads incoming data, translates the data into a web authoring language, if necessary, and maps the data to the web page display screen;

whereby the web page display screen increases user excitement by providing a richer gaming experience.

65. A user interface for use in a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a gaming presentation and gaming processor, the user interface comprising:

a web browser enabled display screen, wherein the display screen presents web page information to a user via the display screen; and

an additional processor that communicates with the gaming processor, wherein the additional processor reads incoming data, translates the data into a web authoring language, if necessary, and maps the data to the multimedia display screen, and wherein the additional processor receive information input by a user through the display screen;

whereby the multimedia display screen increases user excitement by providing a richer gaming experience.