METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ALTERING GAMING DEVICE CONFIGURATION RESPONSIVE TO INFORMATION RELATED TO A PLAYER OF THE GAMING DEVICE

• US 20090239648A1
• Filed: 03/18/2009
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Patent Investment & Licensing Company
• Original Assignee: Acres Technology
• Inventors: Acres, John F.
• Application Number:
  US12/406,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20090239648A1
• 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 17/3211 Display means
• 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 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and apparatus for operating a gaming device having at least one winning event and at least one related award that is generated according to a set of rules associated with the game. The game is driven to present a predefined winning outcome and an award is generated as if the winning event and award were generated according to the rules. Also provided are rules and/or conditions for determining when to generate the predefined wining event, including rules that take into account player value to the casino and game volatility preference.

Claims

1. A method for operating an electronic gaming device comprising:

estimating a preferred frequency of winning events for the gaming device;

tracking the actual frequency of winning events for the gaming device;

establishing at least one criterion that is related to the preferred frequency and the actual frequency; and

driving the game to present a predefined winning event responsive to the established criterion.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

estimating the value of a player of the gaming device to an operator of the gaming device; and

driving the game to present a predefined winning event responsive to the established criterion and the estimated player value.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

estimating a preferred value of at least one winning event for the gaming device; and

tracking the actual value of winning events for the gaming device, wherein the established criterion is related to both the preferred frequency and value and the actual frequency and value.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

estimating a preferred value of at least one winning event for the gaming device; and

tracking the actual value of winning events for the gaming device, wherein the established criterion is related to both the preferred frequency and value and the actual frequency and value.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising tracking the actual frequency during a play session.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the play session is associated with an identified player.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein a game having a set of rules is implemented on the electronic gaming device.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

selecting a winning event according to the rules responsive to a first play of the game by a player; and

driving the game to present a predefined winning event responsive to a second play of the game by the player.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising permitting a random number generator to select a winning event according to the rules.

10. A method for operating a gaming device comprising:

estimating the value of a player to an operator of the gaming device;

estimating a preferred frequency of winning events for the player;

tracking the actual frequency of winning events of the gaming device while the player is playing;

establishing at least one criterion that is related to the difference between the preferred frequency and the actual frequency;

determining when the criterion meets at least one predefined condition;

thereafter driving the game to present a first predefined winning event if the player has a first estimated value; and

if the player has a second estimated value, driving the game to present a second predefined winning event.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein estimating a preferred frequency of winning events for the player comprises:

tracking play of the player on at least one gaming device; and

drawing inferences related to the player'"'"'s preferred frequency of winning events based on the tracked play.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising tracking the actual frequency during a play session.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the play session is associated with an identified player.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein a game having a set of rules is implemented on the electronic gaming device.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

selecting a winning event according to the rules responsive to a first play of the game by a player; and

driving the game to present a predefined winning event responsive to a second play of the game by the player.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising permitting a random number generator to select a winning event according to the rules.

33. The method of claim 10 wherein a game having a set of rules is implemented on the electronic gaming device.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

selecting a winning event according to the rules responsive to a first play of the game by a player; and

driving the game to present a predefined winning event responsive to a second play of the game by the player.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the predefined winning event is associated with an award having the preferred value.

36. The method of claim 34 further comprising permitting a random number generator to select a winning event according to the rules.

17. An apparatus for operating a gaming device comprising:

means for estimating a preferred frequency of winning events for the gaming device;

means for tracking the actual frequency of winning events for the gaming device;

means for establishing at least one criterion that is related to the preferred frequency and the actual frequency; and

means for driving the game to present a predefined winning event responsive to the established criterion.

18. A method for operating a network of gaming devices comprising:

tracking a player'"'"'s play on the networked gaming devices;

estimating the player'"'"'s preferred frequency of winning events;

determining the actual frequency of winning events experienced by the player during game play;

establishing at least one criterion that is related to the preferred frequency and the actual frequency; and

driving the game to present a predefined winning event responsive to the established criterion.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein determining the player'"'"'s preferred frequency of winning events comprises tracking the player'"'"'s play on a first one of the gaming devices and wherein determining the actual frequency of winning events comprises determining the actual frequency of winning events experienced by the player on a second one of the gaming devices.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the method further comprises estimating the player'"'"'s worth to an operator of the network of gaming devices and wherein driving the game to present a predefined winning event responsive to the established criterion comprises driving the game to present a first predefined winning event if the player has a first estimated worth and driving the game to present a second predefined winning event if the player has a second estimated worth.

21. A method for operating an electronic gaming device comprising:

estimating a preferred value of at least one winning event for the gaming device;

tracking the actual values of winning events for the gaming device;

establishing at least one criterion that is related to the preferred value and the actual values; and

driving the game to present a predefined winning event responsive to the established criterion.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

estimating the value of a player of the gaming device to an operator of the gaming device; and

driving the game to present a predefined winning event responsive to the established criterion and the estimated player value.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the predefined winning event is associated with an award having the preferred value.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising tracking the actual values during a play session.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the play session is associated with an identified player.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein a game having a set of rules is implemented on the electronic gaming device.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

selecting a winning event according to the rules responsive to a first play of the game by a player; and

driving the game to present a predefined winning event responsive to a second play of the game by the player.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the predefined winning event is associated with an award having the preferred value.

29. The method of claim 27 further comprising permitting a random number generator to select a winning event according to the rules.

30. A method for operating a gaming device comprising:

estimating the value of a player to an operator of the gaming device;

estimating a preferred value of at least one winning event for the player;

tracking the actual value of winning events of the gaming device while the player is playing;

establishing at least one criterion that is related to the difference between the preferred value and the actual value;

determining when the criterion meets at least one predefined condition;

thereafter driving the game to present a first predefined winning event if the player has a first estimated value; and

if the player has a second estimated value, driving the game to present a second predefined winning event.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising tracking the actual value during a play session.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the play session is associated with an identified player.

37. An apparatus for operating a gaming device comprising:

means for estimating a preferred value of at least one winning event for the gaming device;

means for tracking the actual value of winning events for the gaming device;

means for establishing at least one criterion that is related to the preferred value and the actual value; and

means for driving the game to present a predefined winning event responsive to the established criterion.

38. A method for operating a network of gaming devices comprising:

tracking a player'"'"'s play on the networked gaming devices;

estimating the player'"'"'s preferred value of at least one winning event;

determining the actual value of winning events experienced by the player during game play;

establishing at least one criterion that is related to the preferred value and the actual value; and

driving the game to present a predefined winning event responsive to the established criterion.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein estimating the player'"'"'s preferred value of at least one winning event comprises tracking the player'"'"'s play on a first one of the gaming devices and wherein determining the actual value of winning events comprises determining the actual value of winning events experienced by the player on a second one of the gaming devices.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein the method further comprises estimating the player'"'"'s worth to an operator of the network of gaming devices and wherein driving the game to present a predefined winning event responsive to the established criterion comprises driving the game to present a first predefined winning event if the player has a first estimated worth and driving the game to present a second predefined winning event if the player has a second estimated worth.