HANDHELD WAGERING GAME SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR CONDUCTING WAGERING GAMES THEREUPON

• US 20090197684A1
• Filed: 05/30/2007
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Schwartz, Richard T., Gagner, Mark B., Hornik, Jeremy M., Thomas, Alfred, Pacey, Larry J., Arezina, Vladimir I.
• Granted Patent: US 8,282,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a handheld gaming machine configured to play at least one game and a controller. The controller is configured to base eligibility of the handheld gaming machine for a game-related feature at least upon a location of the handheld gaming machine and/or a proximity of the handheld gaming machine to an external device.

Claims

1. A gaming system, comprising

a handheld gaming machine configured to play at least one game;

and

a controller;

wherein said controller is configured to base eligibility of said handheld gaming machine for a game-related feature at least upon one of a location of said handheld gaming machine and a proximity of said handheld gaming machine to an external device.

2. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein said game-related feature comprises an individual game or a group game.

4. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein said location comprises at least one of a room, a fixed hot spot or a mobile hot spot.

7. The gaming system according to claim 4, wherein said mobile hot spot comprises a randomly selected handheld gaming machine.

8. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein said external device comprises another handheld gaming machine.

9. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein said location is determined using a wireless signal output by said handheld gaming machine.

10. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein said location is determined using at least one of a global positioning system, triangulation of a signal output by said handheld gaming machine, a comparison of a signal output by said handheld gaming machine between at least two different receivers, a RFID, a short range wireless connection between said handheld gaming machine and a stationary receiver, a short range wireless connection between said handheld gaming machine and a mobile receiver, or a physical connection of said handheld gaming machine to a port.

11. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein said location is determined based on at least one factor, said at least one factor comprising a signal strength of a signal output by said handheld gaming machine relative to at least one receiving device.

12. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein said game-related feature comprises at least one of a basic wagering game, a bonus game, a collaborative group game, or a competitive group game.

15. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein said game-related feature comprises an award or comprises game content, said game content comprising at least one of a symbol, symbol set, color, color scheme, icon, character, video sequence, animated sequence, image, arrangement, sound, music, and song.

3. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. A gaming system, comprising

a handheld gaming machine configured to play at least one game;

and

a controller;

wherein said controller is configured to base eligibility of said handheld gaming machine for at least one of game-related content and non-game content at least upon one of a location of said handheld gaming machine and a proximity of said handheld gaming machine to an external device.

18. The gaming system according to claim 17, wherein said non-game content comprises at least one of music, images, textual messages, video images, codes, keys, electronic coupons, and non-game-related code.

19. The gaming system according to claim 17, wherein said location comprises at least one of hot spot, a room, and an area in at least one gaming establishment.

20. The gaming system according to claim 17, wherein said external device comprises another handheld gaming machine.

21. The gaming system according to claim 17, wherein said location is determined using a wireless signal output by said handheld gaming machine.

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

24. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system, the method comprising:

determining a location of a handheld gaming machine; and

basing an eligibility of said handheld gaming machine for at least one of a game-related feature and a non-game related content at least upon said location.

25. The method for conducting a wagering game according to claim 24, wherein said game-related feature comprises an individual game or a group game.

27. The method for conducting a wagering game according to claim 24, wherein said act of determining a location of a handheld gaming machine comprises determining a location of the handheld gaming machine within at least one of a room within a gaming establishment or within a hot spot associated with a gaming establishment.

32. The method for conducting a wagering game according to claim 24, wherein said act of determining a location of a handheld gaming machine comprises using a wireless signal output by said handheld gaming machine.

34. The method for conducting a wagering game according to claim 24, wherein said act of determining a location of a handheld gaming machine comprises comparing a signal strength of a signal output by said handheld gaming machine relative to at least one receiving device.

35. The method for conducting a wagering game according to claim 24, wherein said game-related feature comprises an awards and wherein the method further comprises the act of:

providing said award to at least the eligible handheld gaming machine or providing an award relating to said award to at least one other handheld gaming machine proximate to said eligible handheld gaming machine.

38. The method for conducting a wagering game according to claim 24, wherein said non-game related content comprises at least one of music, images, textual messages, video images, codes, keys, electronic coupons, and non-game-related code.

26. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

29. The method for conducting a wagering game according to claim 28, further comprising:

moving said hot spot from at least a first location to at least a second location or moving said hot spot between among a plurality of predetermined locations.

31. The method for conducting a wagering game according to claim 29, further comprising:

designating at least one of a selected and a randomly selected handheld gaming machine to act as said hot spot.

30. (canceled)

33. (canceled)

36. (canceled)

37. (canceled)

39. A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for directing a gaming system processor or processors to conduct the acts of:

determining a location of a handheld gaming machine; and

basing an eligibility of said handheld gaming machine for at least one of a game-related feature and a non-game related content at least upon said location.