Gaming machine virtual player tracking and related services
First Claim
1. A gaming machine comprising:
- a master gaming controller designed or configured i) to control one or more games played on the gaming machine, ii) to load gaming software for execution from a memory wherein the loaded gaming software includes player tracking software and a first software application; and
iii) to execute player tracking software that allows the master gaming controller to provide player tracking services, wherein said player tracking software is operable to;
a) receive event information from one or more event sources wherein the one or more event sources include at least physical devices coupled to the gaming machine;
b) evaluate whether the event information is a player tracking event;
c) when the event information is the player tracking event, determine a response to the player tracking event;
d) generate the response to player the tracking event;
e) control operating features of at least one of the physical devices to output player tracking information;
iv) to execute a first software application that provides a feature on the gaming machine other than the playing services wherein the first software application and the player tracking software are each operable to at least receive, at proximately a same time, first event information from a first input device included in the physical devices and are each operable to evaluate whether a response is needed to the first event information wherein the first input device is used in a first context by the player tracking software to provide player tracking services and wherein the first input device is used in a second context by the first software application to provide the feature other than the player tracking services;
a main display coupled to the housing used to display the one or more games controlled by the master gaming controller;
one or more input devices coupled to the housing for accepting indicia of credit wherein the indicia of credit are for making wagers on the games played on the gaming machine;
one or more output devices coupled to the housing for dispensing the indicia of credit;
a communication interface coupled to the housing for communicating at least the player tracking information between the master gaming controller and a player tracking server the memory storing the gaming software including the player tracking software and the first application software.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A disclosed gaming machine provides a gaming machine with a plurality of software units providing player tracking services. The software player tracking units eliminate the need for a separate hardware player tracking unit. The player tracking devices, including the card reader, are accessible to the master gaming controller on the gaming machine and may be utilized by the master gaming controller for other gaming applications. The player tracking software incorporates communication protocols for communicating with a variety of player tracking devices. Communication protocols, device interfaces and device drivers for operating the player tracking devices and performing player tracking services may be added or upgraded by loading the player tracking software to a memory mounted within the gaming machine.
146 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A gaming machine comprising:
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a master gaming controller designed or configured i) to control one or more games played on the gaming machine, ii) to load gaming software for execution from a memory wherein the loaded gaming software includes player tracking software and a first software application; and
iii) to execute player tracking software that allows the master gaming controller to provide player tracking services, wherein said player tracking software is operable to;
a) receive event information from one or more event sources wherein the one or more event sources include at least physical devices coupled to the gaming machine;
b) evaluate whether the event information is a player tracking event;
c) when the event information is the player tracking event, determine a response to the player tracking event;
d) generate the response to player the tracking event;
e) control operating features of at least one of the physical devices to output player tracking information;
iv) to execute a first software application that provides a feature on the gaming machine other than the playing services wherein the first software application and the player tracking software are each operable to at least receive, at proximately a same time, first event information from a first input device included in the physical devices and are each operable to evaluate whether a response is needed to the first event information wherein the first input device is used in a first context by the player tracking software to provide player tracking services and wherein the first input device is used in a second context by the first software application to provide the feature other than the player tracking services;
a main display coupled to the housing used to display the one or more games controlled by the master gaming controller;
one or more input devices coupled to the housing for accepting indicia of credit wherein the indicia of credit are for making wagers on the games played on the gaming machine;
one or more output devices coupled to the housing for dispensing the indicia of credit;
a communication interface coupled to the housing for communicating at least the player tracking information between the master gaming controller and a player tracking server the memory storing the gaming software including the player tracking software and the first application software. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for providing player tracking services on a gaming machine providing wagering on a game of chance, the method comprising:
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reading one or more configuration files that specify the gaming software to load wherein the gaming software includes player tracking software and a first software application;
loading the gaming software including the player tracking software, a first software application and software for generating a game of chance played on the gaming machine specified by the one or more configuration files into a memory utilized by the master gaming controller on the gaming machine for executing the gaming software;
executing the player tracking software, first software application and the software for generating a game of chance wherein the player tracking software allows the master gaming controller to provide player tracking services on the gaming machine using one or more physical devices coupled to the gaming machine and wherein the first software application provides a feature on the gaming machine other than player tracking services wherein the first software application and the player tracking software are each operable to at least receive, at proximately a same time, event information from a first input device included in the physical devices and are each operable to evaluate whether a response is needed to the event information wherein the first input device is used in a first context by the player tracking software to provide player tracking services and wherein the first input device is used in a second context by the first software application to provide the feature other than the player tracking services;
receiving in the executed player tracking software first event information from the first input device;
determining in the executed player tracking software the first event information is related to the player tracking services;
evaluating in the executed player tracking software the first event information to determine a response to generate;
generating the response related to the player tracking services;
receiving a wager on the game of chance; and
displaying under control of the master gaming controller an outcome for the game of chance on a main display. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification