WAGERING GAME MACHINE WITH BIOFEEDBACK-AWARE GAME PRESENTATION

• US 20060281543A1
• Filed: 02/21/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Rigsby, Gene, Sutton, James E., Leopold, Samuel
• Granted Patent: US 8,298,078 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

A computerized wagering game system includes a gaming module comprising gaming code which is operable when executed on to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and a biofeedback module operable to track at least one biometric characteristic of a game player. The wagering game is further operable to alter presentation of the wagering game based on changes in the at least one biometric characteristic. A mood enhancement module is operable to provide energy to a wagering game player at a frequency designed to provide a mood enhancing effect.

Claims

1. A computerized wagering game system, comprising:

a gaming module comprising gaming code which is operable to present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered;

a biofeedback module operable to track at least one biometric characteristic of a game player, and to alter presentation of the wagering game based on changes in the at least one biometric characteristic.

2. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1, wherein the at least one biometric characteristic comprises at least one of pulse, pupil movement, blood pressure, infrared image, body movement, and body temperature.

3. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1, further comprising at least one biometric sensor for tracking the biometric characteristic of the game player.

4. The computerized wagering game system of claim 3, wherein the at least one biometric sensor comprises at least one of a pulse sensor, a blood pressure sensor, a body temperature sensor, an infrared camera, a pupil scanner, and a body movement sensor.

5. The computerized wagering game system of claim 3, wherein the at least one biometric sensor is incorporated into a wagering game player interface device, the wagering game player interface device including a pushbutton, a pullarm, a touchscreen, or other player interface device.

6. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1, the biofeedback module further operable to establish the identity of the game player through the at least one biometric characteristic.

7. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1, wherein altering presentation of the wagering game comprises at least one of:

speeding up or slowing down presentation of game play;

changing the volume, pitch, or other characteristic of music;

speeding up or slowing down the speed of animation or video;

presenting different thematic elements to accompany game play; and

stopping game play.

8. A method of operating a computerized wagering game system, comprising:

presenting a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered;

tracking at least one biometric characteristic of a game player; and

altering presentation of the wagering game based on changes in the at least one biometric characteristic.

9. The method of operating a computerized wagering game system of claim 8, wherein the at least one biometric characteristic comprises at least one of pulse, pupil movement, blood pressure, infrared image, body movement, and body temperature.

10. The method of operating a computerized wagering game system of claim 8, wherein tracking the biometric characteristic of the game player comprises operating a biometric sensor that is a part of the wagering game machine.

11. The method of operating a computerized wagering game system of claim 10, wherein the at least one biometric sensor comprises at least one of a pulse sensor, a blood pressure sensor, a body temperature sensor, an infrared camera, a pupil scanner, and a body movement sensor.

12. The method of operating a computerized wagering game system of claim 10, wherein the at least one biometric sensor is incorporated into a wagering game player interface device, the player interface device comprising a pushbutton, a pullarm, a touchscreen, or other player interface device.

13. The method of operating a computerized wagering game system of claim 10, further comprising establishing the identity of the game player through the at least one biometric characteristic.

14. The method of operating a computerized wagering game system of claim 8, wherein altering presentation of the wagering game comprises at least one of:

speeding up or slowing down presentation of game play;

changing the volume, pitch or other characteristic of music;

speeding up or slowing down the speed of animation or video;

presenting different thematic elements to accompany game play; and

stopping game play.

15. A machine-readable medium with instructions stored thereon, the instructions when executed operable to cause a computerized wagering game system to:

present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered;

track at least one biometric characteristic of a game player; and

alter presentation of the wagering game based on changes in the at least one biometric characteristic.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the at least one biometric characteristic comprises at least one of pulse, pupil movement, blood pressure, infrared image, body movement, and body temperature.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein tracking the biometric characteristic of the game player comprises operating a biometric sensor that is a part of the wagering game machine.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the at least one biometric sensor comprises at least one of a pulse sensor, a blood pressure sensor, a body temperature sensor, an infrared camera, a pupil scanner, and a body movement sensor.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the at least one biometric sensor is incorporated into a wagering game player interface device.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein altering presentation of the wagering game comprises at least one of:

speeding up or slowing down presentation of game play;

changing the volume, pitch or other characteristic of music;

speeding up or slowing down the speed of animation or video;

presenting different thematic elements to accompany game play; and

stopping game play.

21. A computerized wagering game system, comprising:

a gaming module comprising a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered; and

a mood enhancement module operable to provide energy to a wagering game player at a frequency designed to provide a mood enhancing effect.

22. The computerized wagering game system of claim 21, wherein the energy comprises at least one of sound energy, light energy, or electromagnetic energy.

23. The computerized wagering game system of claim 21, wherein the energy comprises electromagnetic energy at a frequency of less than one Hertz, and is provided to the wagering game player including at least a portion of the game player'"'"'s nervous system.

24. The computerized wagering game system of claim 21, wherein the energy comprises sound energy, the frequency comprising at least one of a discrete, sum, difference, and modulated frequency.

25. The computerized wagering game system of claim 21, wherein the energy comprises sound energy designed to supplement a wagering game player'"'"'s vocal frequencies.

26. The computerized wagering game system of claim 21, wherein the energy frequency is varied over time.

27. The computerized wagering game system of claim 21, wherein the energy is provided to maintain a level of 1000 to 5000 ions per cubic centimeter in the vicinity of the wagering game player, including at least the game player'"'"'s head.

28. A method of operating a computerized wagering system, comprising:

presenting a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered; and

providing energy to a wagering game player at a frequency designed to provide a mood enhancing effect.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein providing the energy to a wagering game player comprises providing at least one of sound energy, light energy, or electromagnetic energy.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the energy comprises sound energy, the frequency comprising at least one of a discrete, sum, difference, and modulated frequency.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising varying the frequency over time.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the energy comprises electromagnetic energy at a frequency of less than one Hertz, and is provided to the wagering game player including the game player'"'"'s head.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein the energy comprises sound energy designed to supplement a wagering game player'"'"'s vocal frequencies.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein the energy is provided to maintain a level of 1000 to 5000 ions per cubic centimeter in the vicinity of the wagering game player, including at least the game player'"'"'s head.

35. A machine-readable medium with instructions stored thereon, the instructions when executed operable to cause a computerized wagering game system to:

present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered; and

provide energy to a wagering game player at a frequency designed to provide a mood enhancing effect.

36. The machine-readable medium of claim 35, wherein providing the energy to a wagering game player comprises providing at least one of sound energy, light energy, or electromagnetic energy via a transducer.

37. The machine-readable medium of claim 35, wherein the energy comprises sound energy provided through an acoustic transducer, the frequency comprising at least one of a discrete, sum, difference, and modulated frequency.

38. The machine-readable medium of claim 35, the instructions when executed further operable to vary the frequency over time.

39. The machine-readable medium of claim 35, wherein the energy comprises electromagnetic energy at a frequency of less than one Hertz, and is provided to the wagering game player including the game player'"'"'s head via an electromagnetic transducer.

40. The machine-readable medium of claim 35, wherein the energy comprises sound energy provided through an acoustic transducer, the sound energy designed to supplement a wagering game player'"'"'s vocal frequencies.