Differentiated audio

• US 20070036368A1
• Filed: 10/23/2006
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Benbrahim, Jamal, Hettinger, Mark, Boyd, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 8,184,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/107
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6063 for sound processing
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/32 the control being dependent upon ambient noise level or sound level
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/344 Muting responsive to the amount of noise (noise squelch) H03G3/345 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides novel methods and devices for providing audio to players of a gaming machine and to nearby players. According to preferred implementations, sounds intended for a person currently using a gaming machine are distinguished from second sounds intended for persons who are not currently using the gaming machine. The former sounds are directed to the player of the gaming machine by one or more methods and/or devices. For example, the gaming machine may include a device for producing ultrasonic waves (e.g., in a beam) that produce the first sounds via interaction with a medium, a sound dome, a speaker array, or other devices for producing directional sound. The sound may be directed to a predetermined area near the gaming machine. Alternatively, the sound may be directed to an area at or near where the player is detected to be, where the player'"'"'s player tracking card is detected to be, etc.

Claims

1. A gaming machine, comprising:

means for differentiating first sounds intended for a first person currently using a gaming machine from second sounds intended for second persons who are not currently using the gaming machine;

means for reproducing the first sounds and the second sounds; and

means for directing the first sounds to a first area near one or more user interfaces of the gaming machine such that within the first area, a first volume of the first sounds is higher than a second volume of the second sounds.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising:

an ambient noise level detector configured to detect an ambient noise level and to produce a detected ambient noise level signal; and

a dynamic volume controller configured to regulate a first volume of the first sounds in response to a detected ambient noise level signal.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the reproducing means comprises a device for producing ultrasonic waves that produce the first sounds via interaction with a medium.

4. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the reproducing means comprises a device for producing a beam of ultrasonic waves that produces the first sounds via interaction with a medium.

5. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the reproducing means comprises a sound dome.

6. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the reproducing means comprises a speaker array.

7. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the differentiating means comprises means for differentiating third sounds from the second sounds and the first sounds, the third sounds being equally intended for the first person and the second persons, further comprising means for reproducing the third sounds such that a volume of the third sounds is not substantially different inside or outside the first area.

8. The gaming machine of claim 2, wherein the dynamic volume controller configured to regulate a second volume of the second sounds in response to the detected ambient noise level signal.

9. A gaming apparatus, comprising:

a directional audio device;

means for detecting a location of a person;

means for controlling the directional audio device to direct sounds to the location; and

means for providing a wagering game.

10. The gaming apparatus of claim 9, wherein the detecting means comprises a radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

) reader.

11. The gaming apparatus of claim 9, wherein the sounds comprise attraction sounds relating to the wagering game.

12. The gaming apparatus of claim 9, further comprising means for creating a correction signal that acts to negate unwanted sound, wherein the directional audio device is configured to create a noise-canceling beam based on the correction signal, wherein the detecting means comprises means for detecting a location of a player'"'"'s head, and wherein the directional audio device is configured to direct the noise-canceling beam toward the player'"'"'s head.

13. The gaming apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controlling means controls the directional audio device to direct the sounds towards the location of an RFID tag read by the RFID reader.

14. The gaming apparatus of claim 13, wherein the sounds comprise a personalized message directed to a person associated with the RFID tag.

15. A gaming apparatus, comprising:

means for providing a wagering game;

a first transmitter for transmitting first attraction messages at a first frequency; and

a second transmitter for transmitting second attraction messages at a second frequency.

16. The gaming apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first and second attraction messages correspond with first and second levels of a player tracking program.

17. A gaming method, comprising:

providing a base wagering game having associated first sounds;

providing second sounds not directly associated with the base wagering game;

ascertaining when the first sounds and the second sounds are scheduled to be provided concurrently; and

determining whether it would be undesirable for the first sounds and the second sounds to be provided concurrently.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of muting the first sounds or the second sounds when it is determined that it would be undesirable for the first sounds and the second sounds to be provided concurrently.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the second sounds comprise player tracking sounds, advertising sounds, bonusing sounds or tournament-related sounds.

20. A gaming device having a dynamic audio output, comprising:

an audio amplifier structured to generate a first gaming sound amplified signal of a first gaming sound class having a first amplification level and a second gaming sound amplified signal of a second gaming sound class having a second amplification level;

a speaker structured to emit a gaming sound output having an output volume, said gaming sound output corresponding to the first gaming sound amplified signal;

an ambient noise meter configured to measure an ambient noise level of an environment within a gaming machine vicinity; and

a dynamic volume controller configured to differentially modulate the amplification level of only one of the first gaming sound amplified signal and the second gaming sound amplified signal in relation to the ambient noise level.

21. A gaming method, comprising:

differentiating first sounds intended for a first person currently using a gaming machine from second sounds intended for second persons who are not currently using the gaming machine;

reproducing the first sounds and the second sounds; and

directing the first sounds to a first area near one or more input devices of the gaming machine such that within the first area, a first volume of the first sounds is higher than a second volume of the second sounds.

22. The gaming method of claim 21, further comprising:

detecting an ambient noise level; and

modulating the first volume according to the ambient noise level.

23. The gaming method of claim 21, wherein the second volume is higher than the first volume outside of the first area.

24. The gaming method of claim 21, wherein the first sounds comprise instruction sounds.

25. The gaming method of claim 21, wherein the second sounds comprise attraction sounds.

26. The gaming method of claim 21, further comprising:

differentiating third sounds from the second sounds and the first sounds, the third sounds being equally intended for the first person and the second persons; and

reproducing the third sounds such that a volume of third sounds is not substantially different inside or outside the first area.

27. The gaming method of claim 21, wherein the second sounds comprise game-winning sounds.

28. The gaming method of claim 22, further comprising modulating the second volume according to the ambient noise level.

29. The gaming method of claim 26, wherein the third sounds comprise game-winning sounds.