User Interface System and Method

• US 20070082737A1
• Filed: 02/10/2006
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming International Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: DiMichele, Carmen, Morrow, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,905,780 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means

Abstract

An embedded user interface system 10 includes a web page display screen 20 and an embedded processor 30, and is incorporated into a gaming machine 40 that in turn includes a gaming presentation 50 and a gaming processor 60. The embedded processor 30 employs an internal operating system and communicates with the gaming processor 60. The display screen 20 presents information to a user via the display screen. The dictionary extension 100 receives an incoming text string, parses the text string to identify a navigation command and pull a uniform resource locator from the text string, loads the uniform resource locator pulled from the text string into a variable, and indirectly navigates the web content capable display screen to the uniform resource locator in the variable. This provides a dramatic improvement over traditional system components 70 (input/output peripherals) that have been used in the past to access service and system information, such as a 2-line, 20-character VF display and a 12-digit keypad.

Claims

1. An embedded user interface system associated with a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a gaming presentation and gaming processor, the embedded user interface system comprising:

a web content capable display screen, wherein the display screen presents information to a user via the display screen;

an embedded processor that employs an internal operating system; and

a dictionary extension, wherein the dictionary extension receives an incoming text string, parses the text string to identify a navigation command and pull a uniform resource locator from the text string, loads the uniform resource locator pulled from the text string into a variable, and indirectly navigates the web content capable display screen to the uniform resource locator in the variable.

2. The embedded user interface of claim 1, wherein the incoming data is a serial communication message.

3. The embedded user interface of claim 1, wherein the embedded processor communicates with the gaming processor over an I²C bus.

4. The embedded user interface of claim 1, wherein the web content capable display screen is a color graphic touch screen display.

5. The embedded user interface of claim 1, wherein the embedded processor is at least a 32-bit processor.

6. The embedded user interface of claim 1, wherein the internal operating system is customized to match the specific hardware to which the internal operating system attaches.

7. The embedded user interface of claim 1, wherein the embedded processor utilizes cryptographic technology.

8. The embedded user interface of claim 1, wherein the content offers a certification process for authentication and non-repudiation.

9. The embedded user interface of claim 1, wherein the certification process provides auditability and traceability.

10. The embedded user interface of claim 1, wherein the certification process provides sufficient security for gaming regulators to allow casino operators to design their own content.

11. The embedded user interface of claim 1, wherein the web protocol is HTML.

12. The embedded user interface of claim 1, wherein the web protocol is DHTML.

13. The embedded user interface of claim 1, wherein the web protocol is XML.

14. The embedded user interface of claim 1, wherein the embedded enhanced user interface connects to an Ethernet-networked backbone.

15. The embedded additional user interface of claim 1, wherein the embedded enhanced user interface connects to a web server through an Ethernet-networked backbone.

16. An embedded user interface system for use in a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a gaming presentation and gaming processor, the embedded user interface system comprising:

a web content capable display screen, wherein the display screen presents information to a user via the display screen;

an embedded processor that employs an internal operating system; and

a dictionary extension, wherein the dictionary extension receives an incoming text string, parses the text string, initiates a navigation command in response to information in the parsed text string, and navigates the display screen to a uniform resource locator selected by the dictionary extension.

17. The embedded user interface of claim 16, wherein the incoming data is a serial communication message.

18. The embedded user interface of claim 16, wherein the embedded processor communicates with the gaming processor over an I²C bus.

19. The embedded user interface of claim 16, wherein the animation capable display screen is a color graphic touch screen display.

20. The embedded user interface of claim 16, wherein the embedded processor is at least a 32-bit processor.

21. The embedded user interface of claim 16, wherein the internal operating system is customized to match the specific hardware to which the internal operating system attaches.

22. The embedded user interface of claim 16, wherein the embedded processor utilizes cryptographic technology.

23. The embedded user interface of claim 16, wherein the content offers a certification process for authentication and non-repudiation.

24. The embedded user interface of claim 16, wherein the certification process produces signed content that is auditable and traceable.

25. The embedded user interface of claim 16, wherein the certification process provides sufficient security for gaming regulators to allow casino operators to design their own content.

26. The embedded user interface of claim 16, wherein the web authoring language is HTML.

27. The embedded user interface of claim 16, wherein the web authoring language is DHTML.

28. The embedded user interface of claim 16, wherein the web authoring language is XML.

29. The embedded user interface of claim 16, wherein the embedded enhanced user interface connects to an Ethernet-networked backbone.

30. The embedded user interface of claim 16, wherein the embedded enhanced user interface connects to a web server through an Ethernet-networked backbone.

31. An embedded user interface system for use in a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a gaming presentation and gaming processor, the embedded user interface system comprising:

a web page display screen, wherein the display screen presents information to a user via the display screen, and wherein the web page display screen is divided into a plurality of frames that are each capable of displaying a different uniform resource locator;

an embedded processor that employs an internal operating system; and

a dictionary extension, wherein the dictionary extension receives an incoming text string, parses the text string, initiates a navigation command in response to information in the parsed text string, and navigates a frame of the display screen to a uniform resource locator selected by the dictionary extension.

32. The embedded user interface of claim 31, wherein the incoming data is an serial communication message.

33. The embedded user interface of claim 31, wherein the embedded processor communicates with the gaming processor over an I²C bus.

34. The embedded user interface of claim 31, wherein the web page display screen is a color graphic touch screen display.

35. The embedded user interface of claim 31, wherein the embedded processor is at least a 32-bit processor.

36. The embedded user interface of claim 31, wherein the internal operating system is customized to match the specific hardware to which the internal operating system attaches.

37. The embedded user interface of claim 31, wherein the embedded processor utilizes cryptographic technology.

38. The embedded user interface of claim 31, wherein the content offers a certification process for authentication and non-repudiation.

39. The embedded user interface of claim 31, wherein the certification process provides auditability and traceability.

40. The embedded additional user interface of claim 31, wherein the certification process provides sufficient security for gaming regulators to allow casino operators to design their own content.

41. The embedded user interface of claim 31, wherein the web authoring language is HTML.

42. The embedded user interface of claim 31, wherein the web authoring language is DHTML.

43. The embedded user interface of claim 31, wherein the web authoring language is XML.

44. The embedded user interface of claim 31, wherein the embedded enhanced user interface connects to an Ethernet-networked backbone.

45. The embedded user interface of claim 31, wherein the embedded enhanced user interface connects to a web server through an Ethernet-networked backbone.

46. A gaming machine having a gaming presentation, the gaming machine comprising:

a gaming processor;

a user interface separate from the gaming presentation, the user interface comprising;

a web page display screen, wherein the display screen presents information to a user via the display screen; and

an embedded processor that employs an internal operating system; and

a dictionary extension, wherein the dictionary extension receives an incoming text string, parses the text string to identify a navigation command and pull a uniform resource locator from the text string, loads the uniform resource locator pulled from the text string into a variable, and indirectly navigates the web content capable display screen to the uniform resource locator in the variable.

47. A method for increasing user excitement relating to a gaming machine by providing a richer gaming experience via an additional user interface system that is incorporated into the gaming machine, wherein the additional user interface system includes an additional processor, a web page display screen, and a dictionary extension, the method comprising:

receiving an incoming text string,

parsing the text string to identify a navigation command and pull a uniform resource locator from the text string,

loading the uniform resource locator pulled from the text string into a variable, and

indirectly navigating the web page display screen to the uniform resource locator in the variable.

48. A user interface system for use in a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a gaming presentation and gaming processor, the user interface system comprising:

a web content capable display screen, wherein the display screen presents information to a user via the display screen;

an embedded processor that employs an internal operating system; and

a dictionary extension, wherein the dictionary extension receives an incoming text string, parses the text string, and in response to information in the parsed text string, initiates a command that launches a pop-up dialog box over a uniform resource locator presented on the display screen without altering the uniform resource locator presented on the display screen.

49. A gaming machine having a gaming presentation, the gaming machine comprising:

a user interface separate from the gaming presentation, the user interface including a web page display screen, wherein the display screen presents information to a user via the display screen; and

a processor for controlling game play; and

a dictionary extension, wherein the dictionary extension receives an incoming text string, parses the text string, initiates a navigation command in response to information in the parsed text string, and navigates the display screen to a uniform resource locator selected by the dictionary extension.