Method and Apparatus for Operating Networked Gaming Devices
First Claim
1. A method of providing a game on a gaming machine, said method comprising:
- receiving an input signal indicating a wager amount on a play of the game;
determining an outcome to the play of the game;
determining a first award associated with the outcome according to a payout schedule stored on the gaming machine; and
determining whether to pay a second award in addition to the first award wherein the outcome determined for the play of the game is not used to determine whether to pay the second award.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for monitoring and configuring gaming devices interconnected over a high-speed network is disclosed. The system can support a file server, one or more floor controllers, one or more pit terminals, and other terminals all interconnected over the network. Each gaming device includes an electronic module which allows the gaming device to communicate with a floor controller over a current loop network. The electronic module includes a player tracking module and a data communication node. The player tracking module includes a card reader for detecting a player tracking card inserted therein which identifies the player. The data communication node communicates with both the floor controller and the gaming device. The data communication node communicates with the gaming device over a serial interface through which the data communication node transmits reconfiguration commands. The gaming device reconfigures its payout schedule responsive to the reconfiguration commands to provide a variety of promotional bonuses such as multiple jackpot bonuses, mystery jackpot bonuses, progressive jackpot bonuses, or player specific bonuses.
148 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method of providing a game on a gaming machine, said method comprising:
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receiving an input signal indicating a wager amount on a play of the game;
determining an outcome to the play of the game;
determining a first award associated with the outcome according to a payout schedule stored on the gaming machine; and
determining whether to pay a second award in addition to the first award wherein the outcome determined for the play of the game is not used to determine whether to pay the second award. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A networked gaming system comprising:
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a floor controller;
a plurality of gaming machines operable to communicate with the floor controller, wherein each of said plurality of gaming machines includes a payout table for specifying standard payouts payable at each of the gaming machines that correspond to outcomes displayed on each of the gaming machines;
wherein each of the gaming machines is configured to determine whether to provide a bonus payout after an outcome is displayed and wherein said bonus payout is in addition to the standard payouts paid by each of the gaming machines and wherein the determination of whether to pay the bonus payout is not based on the outcome displayed at each of the gaming machines providing the bonus payout; and
wherein the determination of whether to pay the bonus payout is based, at least in part, on information communicated between the floor controller and each of the gaming machines providing the bonus payout. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A networked gaming system comprising:
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a remote host;
a plurality of gaming machines operable to communicate with the remote host, each gaming machine comprising;
a display for displaying a game;
a first input mechanism operable to receive money or indicia credit for wagers on a play of the game;
a second input mechanism operable to receive an input indicating a wager amount on the play of the game;
at least one processor operable to execute software for controlling the play of the game;
at least one memory for storing the software and a payout schedule wherein the software comprises;
a) logic for determining an outcome for the play of the game and a first award associated with the outcome wherein the first award and the outcome are related according to information stored in the payout schedule;
b) logic for determining whether to pay a second award in addition to the first award wherein the outcome determined for the play of the game is not used to determine whether to pay the second award;
a communication interface for communicating with the remote host; and
a network for allowing communications between the remote host and the plurality of gaming machines. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification