Gaming machine interfaceable with collectible gaming token

• US 20070197275A1
• Filed: 08/10/2005
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Gagner, Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/573,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20070197275A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 1/06 Coins specially adapted to operate coin-freed mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens

Abstract

A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game controlled by a processor dispenses, receives, and interacts with collectible portable tracking devices, or tokens. The gaming machine includes a token dispenser, a token receiver and an interface. Each token is equipped with a computer readable storage medium adapted to either directly store game play information or store a player identifier which can be used to retrieve game play information from the game machine. The interface of the gaming machine facilitates communication between the computer readable storage medium and the processor. The token has a theme associated with the theme of the gaming machine. The token also includes a receiver and an information indicator for receiving and communicating gameplay or casino information to the player.

Claims

1. A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game, comprising:

a processor for executing the wagering game, and;

a dispenser for dispensing at least one of a voucher and a collectible token, the token having a theme associated with a theme of the gaming machine, the voucher redeemable for the collectible token.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the token is an article of jewelry.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the token is wearable.

4. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the token is a figurine associated with the theme of the gaming machine.

5. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the token is a three dimensional character of the theme of the gaming machine.

6. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the token has a computer readable storage medium which communicates with the processor.

7. The gaming machine of claim 6, wherein the computer readable storage medium stores gameplay information received from the processor.

8. The gaming machine of claim 7, wherein the gameplay information is selected from the group consisting of jackpot information, progressive information, player information and gaming machine availability information.

9. A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game, comprising:

a processor for executing the wagering game, and;

an interface connecting the processor with a portable tracking device, the tracking device having a computer readable storage medium, the tracking device further having a theme associated with a theme of the gaming machine.

10. The gaming machine of claim 9, wherein the computer readable storage medium stores gameplay information.

11. The gaming machine of claim 9, wherein the computer readable storage medium stores an account identifier.

12. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein the account identifier is associated with gameplay information stored on the gaming machine.

13. The gaming machine of claim 10, wherein the gameplay information is selected from the group consisting of jackpot information, progressive information, player information and gaming machine availability information.

14. The gaming machine of claim 12, wherein the gameplay information is selected from the group consisting of jackpot information, progressive information, player information and gaming machine availability information.

15. The gaming machine of claim 9, further comprising a dispenser.

16. The gaming machine of claim 15, wherein the dispenser dispenses at least one of a voucher and the portable tracking device, wherein the voucher is redeemable for the portable tracking device.

17. The gaming machine of claim 9, wherein the theme of the gaming machine is selected from the group consisting of a board game, a game show, a television show, and a movie.

18. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine controlled by a processor, comprising:

receiving a wager from a player to play the game; and

dispensing a portable tracking device to the player, the portable tracking device having a computer readable storage medium in communication with the processor.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of transferring gameplay information to the computer readable storage medium through the processor.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of storing a player identifier in the computer readable storage medium.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the player identifier is associated with gameplay information stored within the gaming machine.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the gameplay information is selected from the group consisting of jackpot information, progressive information, player information and gaming machine availability information.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the gameplay information is selected from the group consisting of jackpot information, progressive information, player information and gaming machine availability information.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the portable tracking device is dispensed from the gaming machine.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the portable tracking device has a theme associated with a theme of the gaming machine.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the portable tracking device has a theme associated with a theme of the gaming machine.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the theme of the gaming machine is selected from the group consisting of a board game, a game show, a television show, and a movie.

28. The method of claim 18, further comprising receiving the portable tracking device, transferring information from the computer readable storage medium to the processor, and adjusting the status of the gaming machine based upon the information received.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the information transferred from the computer readable storage medium to the processor is one of gameplay information and a player identifier.

30. A method of notifying a player of gameplay information pertaining to a gaming machine, comprising:

providing the player a token having a receiver and an information indicator;

transmitting gameplay information to the receiver; and

activating the information indicator to notify the player regarding the gameplay information.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the gameplay information is selected from the group consisting of jackpot information, progressive information, player information and gaming machine availability information.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the information indicator is a visual display.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of displaying the gameplay information on the visual display.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein the providing step includes dispensing the token from the gaming machine.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the token has a theme associated with a theme of the gaming machine.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein the receiver is a radio frequency identification transponder.

37. The method of claim 30, wherein the token includes a computer readable storage medium, wherein the computer readable storage medium stores a player identifier.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein gameplay information associated with the player identifier is transmitted to the receiver.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the token includes a visual display, wherein gameplay information associated with the player identifier is displayed on the visual display.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein the visual display includes at least one LED.

41. The method of claim 32, wherein the visual display is an LCD.

42. The method of claim 30, wherein the token is a telecommunications device.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the telecommunications device is selected from the group consisting of a mobile telephone, a pager, a personal daily assistant, and a text communication device.

44. The method of claim 30, wherein the information indicator comprises a vibration device.

45. The method of claim 30, wherein the information indicator emits an auditory signal.