Player interaction systems

• US 20070054725A1
• Filed: 09/08/2005
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: DiMichele, Carmen, Morrow, James, LeStrange, Michael, Perry, Lars
• Application Number:
  US11/223,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20070054725A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

A gaming system comprises one or more gaming machines, a display system, a player interface system, and a player tracking system. The display system includes a display screen that displays player interactive information, and the player interface system includes a keypad and a secondary input means. The player tracking system is in communication with the display system and the player interface system, and the player tracking system includes a card reader for accepting and reading player cards.

Claims

1. A gaming system, comprising:

at least one gaming machine;

a display system for displaying player interactive information, wherein the display system includes a display screen;

a player interface system having a keypad and a secondary input means; and

a player tracking system in communication with the display system and the player interface system, wherein the player tracking system comprises a card reader for accepting and reading player cards.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein one or more dedicated function buttons are associated with the keypad.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the keypad is a secured keypad such that data received from the keypad is encrypted.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the secondary input means comprises a touch-sensitive frame surrounding the display screen.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the secondary input means comprises one or more touch-sensitive bars surrounding the display screen.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the secondary input means is one or more touch-sensitive buttons.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the secondary input means comprises one or more soft keys located adjacent to the display screen.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the secondary input means is a touchpad, annular touchpad, trackball, joystick, micro-joystick, or a combination thereof.

9. A gaming system, comprising:

at least one gaming machine having a game display for displaying one or more games;

a player interaction system comprising a transparent LCD screen and a keypad positioned behind the transparent LCD screen, wherein the keypad is visible through the transparent LCD screen; and

a player tracking system in communication with the player interaction system, wherein the player tracking system includes a card reader for accepting and reading player cards.

10. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein one or more dedicated function buttons are associated with the keypad.

11. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the keypad is a secured keypad, such that data received from the keypad is encrypted.

12. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the player interaction system further comprises a secondary input means.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the secondary input means comprises a touch-sensitive frame surrounding the transparent LCD screen.

14. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the secondary input means comprises one or more touch-sensitive bars surrounding the transparent LCD screen.

15. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the secondary input means comprises one or more touch-sensitive buttons adjacent to the transparent LCD screen.

16. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the secondary input means comprises one or more soft keys located adjacent to the transparent LCD screen.

17. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the secondary input means is a touchpad, annular touchpad, trackball, joystick, micro-joystick, or a combination thereof.

18. A method for enhancing player interaction with a gaming machine, the method comprising:

obtaining player information from a player;

displaying player services information or game parameters on a display screen; and

enabling the player to use a keyboard and a secondary input means to request player services or to modify game parameters.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein obtaining player information from the player further comprises receiving information from a player card.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising receiving information input via the keypad or the secondary input means.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising encrypting data received from the keypad or the secondary input means.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising displaying player information on the display screen.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein displaying player services information further comprises customizing player services information based upon player information or player data.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising allowing a player to navigate between one or more screens of player services information.

25. A method for enhancing player interaction with a gaming machine, the method comprising:

obtaining player information from a player card;

displaying player information on a display screen;

receiving player data from a keypad and a secondary input means;

displaying player services information or gaming parameters on the display screen; and

enabling the player to use a keypad and a secondary input means to request player services or to modify game parameters.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising encrypting data received from the keypad or the secondary input means.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein displaying player services information further comprises customizing player services information based upon player information and/or player data.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising allowing a player to navigate between one or more screens of player services information.