Play per view

• US 20060154729A1
• Filed: 03/09/2006
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: LeMay, Steven G., Nelson, Dwayne R., Stockdale, James W.
• Application Number:
  US11/372,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20060154729A1
• 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 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

A disclosed gaming machine provides a gaming machine with devices able to output entertainment content (e.g. movies, TV programming, audio programs and advertising) from entertainment content sources located within the gaming machine or outside of the gaming machine. A player utilizing the gaming machine may access, independently of game play, entertainment content on the gaming machine where access to the entertainment content is granted according to a predetermined fee. In addition, the player utilizing the gaming machine may receive personal messages on the gaming machine. For example, while utilizing the gaming machine, a player may receive, e-mail, stock quotes, news and advertising that is of particular interest to the player utilizing the gaming machine.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a display device coupled to a main cabinet of the gaming machine;

a master gaming controller that controls a game played on the gaming machine and presents a game outcome presentation on said display device;

a first memory storing logic for generating a locator service that allows an user at the gaming machine to be located wherein the gaming machine is one of a plurality of gaming devices in a casino gaming system;

a second memory storing logic for generating an electronic messaging service that allows the located user to receive a message;

one or more input devices operable to receive information for the locator service or the electronic messaging service; and

one or more output devices operable to output information generated by the locator service or the electronic messaging service.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein locator service further allows the user to locate a first user at a first gaming device in the casino gaming system.

3. The gaming machine of claim 2, wherein the first gaming device is a first gaming machine in the casino gaming system.

4. The gaming machine of claim 2, wherein the electronic messaging service further allows the user to send a second message to the first user.

5. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising a player tracking device coupled to the gaming machine.

6. The gaming machine of claim 5, wherein the player tracking device includes a first input device operable to receive information for the locator service or the electronic messaging service.

7. The gaming machine of claim 5, wherein the player tracking device includes a first output device operable to output information generated by the locator service or the electronic messaging service.

8. The gaming machine of claim 5, wherein the player tracking device is operable to execute the logic for generating the locator service.

9. The gaming machine of claim 5, wherein the player tracking device is operable to execute the logic for generating the electronic messaging service.

10. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the output device is a display.

11. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein master gaming controller is operable to execute the logic for generating the locator service or the logic for generating the electronic messaging or the logic for generating the electronic messaging service.

12. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the message is a reminder of an upcoming event scheduled for the user.

13. The gaming machine of claim 12, wherein the reminder is for a dinner reservation for the user.

14. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the message is output in one of an audio format, a video format, a textual format or combinations thereof.

15. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the message is input in one of an audio format, a video format, a textual format or combinations thereof.

16. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the message is from a casino complex employee providing a service to the user.

17. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the message is output to a device worn or carried by the user.

18. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein the device is selected from group consisting of a cell phone, personal digital assistant, head phones, a head-mounted video display or a pager.

19. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the message is output via a wireless interface to the one or more devices worn or carried by the user.

20. A casino gaming system comprising:

a server in communications with a plurality of gaming devices including a plurality of gaming machines wherein the server is operable i) to receive a request to locate a person at one of the plurality of gaming machines, ii) to determine a location of the person and iii) to route a message addressed to the person to the gaming machine where the person is located;

the plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine comprising;

a display device coupled to a main cabinet of the gaming machine;

a master gaming controller that controls a game played on the gaming machine, presents a game outcome presentation for the game on said display device;

an interface that receives the message addressed to the person;

an input mechanism for receiving cash or indicia of credit for a wager on the game,

an output mechanism for outputting cash or indicia of credit;

an output device for transmitting the message to the person;

a local area network within a casino complex for allowing communications between the server and the plurality of gaming devices.

21. The casino gaming system of claim 20, wherein the message is a reminder of an upcoming event scheduled for the person at the casino complex.

22. The casino gaming system of claim 20, wherein the message is output in one of an audio format, a video format, a textual format or combinations thereof.

23. The casino gaming system of claim 20, wherein the message is from a casino complex employee providing a service to the person.

24. The casino gaming system of claim 20, wherein the message is from a second person located at a second gaming machine.

25. The casino gaming system of claim 20, wherein the output device is a wireless interface or wired interface.

26. The casino gaming system of claim 20 wherein the output device is operable to communicate with one or more of a cell phone, personal digital assistant, head phones, a head-mounted video display or a pager.

27. The casino gaming system of claim 20, wherein one or more of the plurality of gaming machines further comprise a player tracking device including the interface.

28. The casino gaming system of claim 20, wherein one or more of the plurality of gaming machines further comprise a player tracking device including the output device.