META-OPTION

• US 20090131144A1
• Filed: 11/12/2008
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Allen, Jeffrey L.
• Application Number:
  US12/269,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20090131144A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates

Abstract

A slot management system including a download and configuration server-based sub-system and method is disclosed for use with game devices, systems, and methods is provided to enable users to monitor, control, and modify different game devices and other related activities. The different game devices may be modified via a meta-option.

Claims

1. A gaming machine configuration system, comprising:

a plurality of electronic gaming machines from a plurality of manufactures in a casino, each respective electronic gaming machine having a respective number of configurable options;

a computer readable database that stores a look-up table associated with a meta-option, the look-up table associating a respective configuration variable name with a respective manufacturer for each respective manufacturer and associating a respective value for a respective valid setting for the respective configuration variable name for each respective manufacturers with a value for setting the meta-option, and

a gaming machine configuration controller, in communication with the plurality of electronic gaming machines and the computer readable database, that automatically translates the value for setting the meta-option to a specific value for a respective configuration variable based at least in part on knowledge of a respective manufacturer of a respective gaming machine for each respective electronic gaming machine of the plurality of electronic gaming machines.

2. The gaming machine configuration system of claim 1 wherein the gaming machine configuration controller determines the respective manufacturer of a respective electronic gaming machine based at least on an interrogation of the respective electronic gaming machine.

3. The gaming machine configuration system of claim 2 wherein the gaming machine configuration controller determines a respective type of a respective electronic gaming machine based at least on interrogation of the respective electronic gaming machine, and wherein the look-up table associates the respective type of the respective electronic gaming machine with the respective manufacturer thereof.

4. The gaming machine configuration system of claim 3 wherein the gaming machine configuration controller automatically translates the value for setting the meta-option to a specific value for a respective configuration variable based at least in part on the respective type of gaming machine.

5. A computer implemented method setting configuration options in a plurality of electronic gaming machines in a casino, the method comprising:

for each respective electronic gaming machine of a plurality of electronic gaming machines,

determining a respective game theme currently being provided on the respective electronic gaming machine and a respective manufacturer of the respective electronic gaming machine;

in a look-up table associated with a meta-option, determining at least one respective configuration variable name based at least on the respective manufacturer of the respective electronic gaming machine;

in the look-up table associated with the meta-option, determining at least one respective specific value that is a valid respective value for the at least one respective configuration variable name based at least on a value for setting the meta-option at each respective electronic gaming machine in a plurality of electronic gaming machines; and

changing a respective variable of the respective electronic gaming machine based at least on the at least one respective configuration variable name and the at least one respective specific value.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 5 wherein determining a respective game theme currently being provided on the respective electronic gaming machine and a respective manufacturer of the respective electronic gaming machine includes interrogating the respective electronic gaming machine.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 5, comprising:

storing the look-up table associated with the meta-option in a computer readable database.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 5 wherein determining at least one respective configuration variable name based at least on the respective manufacturer of the respective electronic gaming machine includes determining a respective first configuration variable name and a respective at least second configuration variable name.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 8 wherein determining at least one respective specific value that is a valid respective value for the at least one respective configuration variable name includes determining a first respective specific value that is a valid respective value for the first respective configuration variable name and determining a respective at least one specific value that is a valid respective value for the respective at least second configuration variable name.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 9 wherein the meta-option is for a minimum wager amount, and wherein the value for setting the minimum wager amount is a subjective value.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 9 wherein the meta-option is for a minimum wager amount, and wherein the value for setting the minimum wager amount is a relative value.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 5 wherein the meta-option is for one of a minimum wager amount or a maximum wager amount.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 5 wherein the meta-option is for a game volume and wherein the value for setting the game volume is a subjective value.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 5 wherein the meta-option is for a game volume and wherein the value for setting the game volume is a relative value.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 5 wherein the at least one configuration variable name of a first respective electronic gaming machine of the plurality of electronic gaming machines is different from the at least one configuration variable name of a second respective electronic gaming machine of the plurality of electronic gaming machines.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 5, comprising:

receiving user input indicative of the meta-option; and

receiving user input indicative of the value for setting the meta-option at each respective electronic gaming machine in the plurality of electronic gaming machines.