SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING VOLUME ASSOCIATED WITH GAMING SYSTEM

• US 20070111800A1
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konami Gaming Incorporated (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Gaming Incorporated (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Dempsey, Martin, George, Jeffrey, Sepich, Edward, Tyndall, Terry
• Granted Patent: US 7,887,417 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 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

A gaming system for playing a game and processing currency includes a plurality of player interaction terminals adaptable for determining a winning outcome of the game and receiving and processing the currency and discharging the currency in response to the winning outcome of the game. Each player interaction terminal generates various sounds as the game is played and as the winning outcome is determined. A controller operably communicates with each of the player interaction terminals. A tracking device communicates with each of the player interaction terminals and the controller and is held by a casino attendant who moves the tracking device relative each of the player interaction terminals for selectively adjusting the sounds of each of the player interaction terminals and to synch and/or mute or dial down the volume so that a general message, such as, for example an emergency message, may be broadcast.

Claims

1. A remote system for use with a gaming system having at least one gaming machine playable by a player, the gaming machine having at least one associated speaker, comprising:

a remote device, the remote device being embodied in a mobile computer which may be carried by a user; and

,

a controller operably communicating with the gaming machine and the remote device for receiving signals from the remote device and for controlling a sound level associated with the speaker associated with the at least one gaming machine in response to commands input by the user on the remote device.

2. A remote system, as set forth in claim 1, the gaming machine having an associated player tracking device, the at least one associated speaker being associated with the player tracking device.

3. A remote system, as set forth in claim 2, the gaming machine having a game speaker, the controller for selectively controlling the sound level of the at least one associated speaker and/or the game speaker in response to commands input by the user on the remote device.

4. A remote system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the gaming system includes a plurality of gaming machines arranged in one or more banks, the controller for selectively controlling the sound level of the at least one speaker of one of the gaming machines and/or one or more banks of gaming machines.

5. A gaming system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the gaming system includes a plurality of gaming machines, the controller for selectively controlling the sound level associated with the speaker associated with the at least one gaming machine in response to commands input by the user on the remote device and for synchronizing the sound level of the speakers associated with other gaming machines.

6. A system for use with a gaming system having at least one gaming machine playable by a player and having an associated player tracking device, the gaming machine having at least one associated game speaker, the associated player tracking device having an associated player tracking speaker, comprising:

a device for use by a user and/or player; and

,

a controller operably communicating with the gaming machine and the remote device for receiving signals from the remote device and for selectively controlling a sound level associated with the gaming speaker and/or the player tacking speaker in response to commands input by the user or player on the device.

7. A system, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the device is a remote device which may be carried by the user.

8. A system, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the device is the player tracking device.

9. A system, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the device is a workstation networked to the gaming system.

10. A remote system, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the gaming system includes a plurality of gaming machines arranged in one or more banks, the controller for selectively controlling the sound level of the gaming speaker and/or player tracking speaker of one of the gaming machines and/or one or more banks of gaming machines.

11. A gaming system, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the gaming system includes a plurality of gaming machines, the controller for selectively controlling the sound level associated with the gaming speaker and/or player tracking speaker in response to commands input by the user on the device and for synchronizing the sound level of the gaming speaker and/or player tracking speaker associated with other gaming machines.

12. A method of controlling a sound level associated with a speaker associated with a gaming machine of a gaming system, comprising:

providing a remote device embodied in a mobile computer which may be carried by a user;

receiving commands input by the user onto the remote device and relaying the commands to a controller; and

,

receiving the commands at the controller and controlling the sound level associated with the speaker associated with the at least one gaming machine in response to commands input by the user on the remote device.

13. A method, as set forth in claim 12, the gaming machine having an associated player tracking device, the at least one associated speaker being associated with the player tracking device.

14. A method, as set forth in claim 13, the gaming machine having a game speaker, the method including the step of selectively controlling the sound level of the at least one associated speaker and/or the game speaker in response to commands input by the user on the remote device.

15. A method, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the gaming system includes a plurality of gaming machines arranged in one or more banks, the method including the step of selectively controlling the sound level of the at least one speaker of one of the gaming machines and/or one or more banks of gaming machines.

16. A method, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the gaming system includes a plurality of gaming machines, the method including the step of selectively controlling the sound level associated with the speaker associated with the at least one gaming machine in response to commands input by the user on the remote device and synchronizing the sound level of the speakers associated with other gaming machines.

22. A method, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the gaming system includes a plurality of gaming machines, the method including the step of selectively controlling the sound level associated with the gaming speaker and/or player tracking speaker in response to commands input by the user on the device and synchronizing the sound level of the gaming speaker and/or player tracking speaker associated with other gaming machines.

17. A method for use with a gaming system having at least one gaming machine playable by a player and having an associated player tracking device, the gaming machine having at least one associated game speaker, the associated player tracking device having an associated player tracking speaker, comprising:

providing a device for use by a user and/or player;

receiving commands input by the user onto the device and relaying the commands to a controller; and

,

receiving the commands at the controller and selectively controlling a sound level associated with the gaming speaker and/or the player tacking speaker in response to commands input by the user or player on the device.

18. A method, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the device is a remote device which may be carried by the user.

19. A method, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the device is the player tracking device.

20. A method, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the device is a workstation networked to the gaming system.

21. A method, as set forth in claim 17, wherein the gaming system includes a plurality of gaming machines arranged in one or more banks, the method including the step of selectively controlling the sound level of the gaming speaker and/or player tracking speaker of one of the gaming machines and/or one or more banks of gaming machines.