SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING AN INTERFACE FOR A GAMING DEVICE

• US 20070060312A1
• Filed: 02/23/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konami Gaming Incorporated (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Gaming Incorporated (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Soukup, Thomas, Dempsey, Martin, George, Jeffrey, Sepich, Edward
• Granted Patent: US 9,367,985 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

A device for providing an interface to a gaming machine. The device includes a processor, an ID Card reader coupled to the processor, a display coupled to the processor for displaying a bezel and information within the bezel. The device also including a keypad coupled to the processor for receiving input. The processor instructing the display to display media according to a predetermined set of rules.

Claims

1. A player tracking device for providing a player interface to a player of a gaming machine and displaying media from a media source, the media source providing first and second media content, the player tracking device coupled to the gaming machine, comprising:

a processor;

an ID Card reader coupled to the processor;

a speaker coupled to the processor for playing audio;

a display coupled to the processor for displaying information and displaying media; and

,

a keypad coupled to the processor for receiving input, the processor for displaying the first media on the display and/or speaker and for replacing the first media on the display and/or speaker with the second media in response to receiving input.

2. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 1, the display being a touch-screen display.

3. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 2, the keypad being implemented by the touch-screen display.

4. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first and/or second media content includes at least one of local attractions, general in-house advertisements, paid advertisements by local merchants, show reviews, promotional alerts, security alerts, community service advisories, emergency directions, featured videos, a Keno board.

5. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a speaker, the first and/or second media content including audio for playing through the speaker.

6. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 1, the processor being coupled to a host computer, the host computer for managing a database containing player information, the processor for establishing identification of a player through the keypad and/or ID reader.

7. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 1 the processor for playing an intermediate media content prior to display of the second media content.

8. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 7, the intermediate content being an advertisement.

9. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 7, the second media content being a function of the identification of the player.

10. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first and second media contents are one of audio, video, and/or text.

11. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the text includes stock quotes.

12. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first and second media content are one of a static image, an animated gif file, audio, video, streaming text, text, casino messages, progressive info, and/or broadcast messages.

13. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the video is one of synchronous and asynchronous.

14. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the video is live video or stored.

15. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the input is the player logging onto the player tracking device.

16. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the input is actuation of a key on the keypad.

17. A player tracking device for providing a player interface to a player of a gaming machine and displaying media from a media source, the media source providing a first media content stream and a second media content stream, the player tracking device coupled to the gaming machine, comprising:

a processor;

an ID reader coupled to the processor;

a speaker coupled to the processor for playing audio;

a display coupled to the processor for displaying information and displaying media; and

,

a keypad coupled to the processor for receiving input, the processor for switching between first and second media content streams in response to player input on the keypad.

18. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 17, the display being a touch-screen display.

19. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 18, the keypad being implemented by the touch-screen display.

20. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the first and/or second media content streams includes at least one of local attractions, general in-house advertisements, paid advertisements by local merchants, show reviews, promotional alerts, security alerts, community service advisories, emergency directions, featured videos, a Keno board.

21. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 17, the first and/or second media content including audio for playing through the speaker.

22. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 17, the processor being coupled to a host computer, the host computer for managing a database containing player information, the processor for establishing identification of a player through the keypad and/or ID reader.

23. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 17, the processor for playing an intermediate media content prior to display of the second media content.

24. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 23, the intermediate content being an advertisement.

25. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 23, the second media content being a function of the identification of the player.

26. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 23, wherein the first and second media contents are one of audio, video, and/or text.

27. A player tracking device, as set forth in claim 23, wherein the text includes stock quotes.

28. A gaming system, comprising:

a media source for providing a first media content stream and a second media content stream; and

,

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machines having a player tracking device capable to play media, the media source and the plurality of gaming machines being networked together, a first set of the gaming machines displaying the first media content stream and a second set of the gaming machines displaying the second media content stream according to a set of predetermined rules.

29. A gaming system, as set forth in claim 28, wherein each player tracking device includes:

a processor;

an ID reader coupled to the processor;

a display coupled to the processor for displaying information and displaying media; and

,

a keypad coupled to the processor for receiving input, the processor for switching between the first and second media content streams in response to player input on the keypad.

30. A gaming system, as set forth in claim 29, the display being a touch-screen display.

31. A gaming system, as set forth in claim 30, the keypad being implemented by the touch-screen display.

32. A gaming system, as set forth in claim 29, wherein the first and/or second media content streams includes at least one of local attractions, general in-house advertisements, paid advertisements by local merchants, show reviews, promotional alerts, security alerts, community service advisories, emergency directions, featured videos, a Keno board.

33. A gaming system, as set forth in claim 29, the player tracking device further including a speaker, the first and/or second media content streams including audio for playing through the speaker.

34. A gaming system, as set forth in claim 29, the processor being coupled to a host computer, the host computer for managing a database containing player information, the processor for establishing identification of a player through the keypad and/or ID reader.

35. A gaming system, as set forth in claim 29, the processor for playing an intermediate media content prior to display of the second media content.

36. A gaming system, as set forth in claim 35, the intermediate content being an advertisement.

37. A gaming system, as set forth in claim 35, the second media content being a function of the identification of the player and/or player information.

38. A gaming system, as set forth in claim 28, wherein the first and second media content streams are one of audio, video, and/or text.

39. A gaming system, as set forth in claim 33, wherein the text includes stock quotes.

40. A gaming system, as set forth in claim 28, wherein the media source includes at least one media server.