Virtual Radio in a Wagering Game Machine

• US 20080188291A1
• Filed: 09/15/2005
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Connelly, Michael P., Pryzby, Eric M., Bonney, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,162,752 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs

Abstract

The present invention provides in one embodiment a computerized wagering game system has a gaming module comprising a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered. A virtual radio audio module is operable to play one of a plurality of audio programs selected by a wagering game player. The selected audio program is presented to simulate a radio such that playing of the selected audio program may start from a point other than the beginning of the audio track.

Claims

1. A computerized wagering game system, comprising:

a gaming module comprising a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to play a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered;

a virtual radio audio module operable to play one of a plurality of audio programs selected by a wagering game player, the selected audio program presented to simulate a radio such that playing of the selected audio program may start from a point other than the beginning of the audio track.

2. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1, the plurality of audio programs each comprise one or more of a plurality of audio tracks being played simultaneously, and wherein the game player is able to select which audio program'"'"'s tracks are not muted.

3. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1, wherein the selected one of the plurality of audio programs is played by starting the audio track from a random point in the audio track.

4. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1, wherein the selected one of the plurality of audio programs is played by starting the audio track from a point based on a clock.

5. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of audio programs comprise a series of songs from similar genres.

6. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1, wherein the audio program is selected by use of electromechanical buttons on the wagering game machine.

7. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1, wherein the audio program is selected via a menu presented on the display of the wagering game machine.

8. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1, wherein the audio program is selected via a primary touchscreen display or a secondary touchscreen display.

9. The computerized wagering game system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of audio programs are received from a server a via a network connection.

10. A method of operating a computerized wagering game machine, comprising:

conducting a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered by executing gaming code on a processor; and

playing one of a plurality of audio programs selected by a wagering game player in a virtual radio module, the selected audio program presented to simulate a radio such that playing of the selected audio program may start from a point other than the beginning of the audio track.

11. The method of claim 10, the plurality of audio programs each comprising one or more of a plurality of audio tracks being played simultaneously, and wherein the game player is able to select which audio program'"'"'s tracks are not muted.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the selected one of the plurality of audio programs is played by starting the audio track from a random point in the audio track.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the selected one of the plurality of audio programs is played by starting the audio track from a point based on a clock.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of audio programs comprise a series of songs from similar genres.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the audio program is selected by use of electromechanical buttons on the wagering game machine.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the audio program is selected via a menu presented on the display of the wagering game machine.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the audio program is selected via a primary touchscreen display or a secondary touchscreen display.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of audio programs are received from a server a via a network connection.

19. A machine readable medium with instructions stored thereon, the instructions when executed operable to cause a computerized system to:

play a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered by executing gaming code on a processor; and

play one of a plurality of audio programs selected by a wagering game player in a virtual radio module, the selected audio program presented to simulate a radio such that playing of the selected audio program may start from a point other than the beginning of the audio track.

20. The machine readable medium of claim 19, the plurality of audio programs each comprising one or more of a plurality of audio tracks being played simultaneously, and wherein the game player is able to select which audio program'"'"'s tracks are not muted.

21. The machine readable medium of claim 19, wherein the selected one of the plurality of audio programs is played by starting the audio track from a random point in the audio track.

22. The machine readable medium of claim 19, wherein the selected one of the plurality of audio programs is played by starting the audio track from a point based on a clock.

23. The machine readable medium of claim 19, wherein at least one of the plurality of audio programs comprise a series of songs from similar genres.

24. The machine readable medium of claim 19, wherein the audio program is selected by use of electromechanical buttons on the wagering game machine.

25. The machine readable medium of claim 19, wherein the audio program is selected via a menu presented on the display of the wagering game machine.

26. The machine readable medium of claim 19, wherein the audio program is selected via a primary touchscreen display or a secondary touchscreen display.

27. The machine readable medium of claim 19, wherein at least one of the plurality of audio programs are received from a server a via a network connection.

28. A computerized wagering game virtual radio system, comprising:

a server having a network interface and operable to send multiple audio tracks to one or more computerized wagering games, and

at least one computerized wagering game having a virtual radio audio module operable to play one of a plurality of audio programs selected by a wagering game player, the selected audio program presented to simulate a radio such that playing of the selected audio program may start from a point other than the beginning of the audio track.

29. A method of providing virtual radio programming to at least one computerized wagering game player, comprising:

sending audio program data from a server to at least one computerized wagering game, and

playing selected audio program data in at least one computerized wagering game via a virtual radio audio module operable to play one of a plurality of audio programs selected by a wagering game player, the selected audio program presented to simulate a radio such that playing of the selected audio program may start from a point other than the beginning of the audio track.