CONFIGURATION OF GAMING MACHINES BASED ON GAMING MACHINE LOCATION

• US 20080051198A1
• Filed: 07/30/2007
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nelson, Dwayne
• Granted Patent: US 8,235,816 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/40
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players

Abstract

A method and apparatus for tracking and determining a location of a gaming machine or other item within a casino or hotel is disclosed. In one embodiment the method and apparatus utilizes a transmitter or emitter to provide a tracking signal that may be tracked by one or more receivers or detectors. It is contemplated that the transmitter or emitter connect to a gaming machine. As the gaming machine is relocated within the casino its location is monitored. The one or more receivers may communicate with a host computer or other data processing system to generate location data regarding the gaming machine in relation to other aspects of the casino. Based on the location information generated by the location monitoring and tracking system, other aspects of machine operation may be controlled and additional features dependant on the machine location information may be enabled.

Claims

1. A system adapted to associate one or more gaming machines with a linked progressive system based upon gaming machine location, comprising:

a gaming machine location system configured to generate location data regarding the locations of a plurality of gaming machines with respect to one or more gaming floors;

a gaming machine control module adapted to establish operational parameters of a linked progressive system, receive gaming machine location data from said gaming machine location system, select one or more subject gaming machines from said plurality of gaming machines based on the respective locations of said gaming machines with respect to said one or more gaming floors, associate said one or more subject gaming machines to the linked progressive system, reconfigure said one or more subject gaming machines from a remote location based upon said established operational parameters, and communicate information regarding said one or more subject gaming machines to said linked progressive system; and

a communication apparatus configured to communicate said subject gaming machine information from said gaming machine control module to said linked progressive system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said subject gaming machine information includes network address information for said one or more subject gaming machines.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said operational parameters are provided via user input.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said operational parameters are determined automatically by said gaming machine control module or an associated system module.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said operational parameters include gaming machine location parameters that define gaming machines located within a defined area or a maximum or minimum proximity to a specified location.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said gaming machine control module is adapted to select only gaming machines located within said defined area or proximity.

2. A method for associating one or more gaming machines with a linked progressive based upon gaming machine location, comprising:

establishing operational parameters for a linked progressive;

specifying one or more gaming areas to be associated with said linked progressive;

determining location data regarding a plurality of gaming machines within or about said one or more gaming areas;

translating said location data regarding said plurality of gaming machines to network address data;

selecting one or more subject gaming machines from said plurality of gaming machines, said selecting being based at least in part on gaming machine location;

associating said one or more subject gaming machines with said linked progressive;

communicating the network address data of said one or more subject gaming machines to a linked progressive system; and

reconfiguring automatically said one or more subject gaming machines from a remote location based upon said operational parameters of said linked progressive.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the linked progressive is linked between different casinos.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more gaming areas are areas located near entrances to a casino.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said translating step comprises converting the location of a gaming machine into a gaming machine identification and thereafter translating the gaming machine identification into a computer network address.

11. A method for associating one or more gaming machines with a linked progressive, comprising:

specifying one or more areas, wherein one or more gaming machines located within said one or more areas are to be associated with a linked progressive;

specifying at least one linked progressive to associate with said one or more areas;

translating machine location data regarding said one or more gaming machines within said one or more areas to network address data; and

communicating said network address data to a linked progressive system to thereby associate said one or more gaming machines with said linked progressive.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said linked progressive is linked between different casinos.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said one or more areas are areas located near entrances to a casino.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of translating comprises converting the location of a gaming machine into a gaming machine identification and thereafter translating the gaming machine identification into a computer network address.