Wagering Game With Special-Event Eligibility Feature Based on Passive Game Play

• US 20100016056A1
• Filed: 07/19/2007
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Gagner, Mark B., Thomas, Alfred
• Granted Patent: US 9,697,672 B2
• 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 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• 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

Abstract

According to one aspect of the invention, a gaming system and method for providing passive participation in at least one wagering game are disclosed. Funds are received to obtain a period of eligibility for an award associated with the wagering game. An entertainment layer having a plurality of features is conducted in response to receiving the wager. A separate gaming layer includes the wagering game. A gaming machine having a display and a player input device is in communication with the entertainment layer and the gaming layer. At least one feature of the entertainment layer is conducted during the period of eligibility. The entertainment layer is operable in response to at least one input from the player input device. Information regarding the wagering game is presented on the gaming machine.

Claims

1. A method of providing passive participation in a wagering game, comprising:

operating the wagering game within a gaming layer;

receiving funds to obtain a period of eligibility for an award associated with the wagering game;

conducting at least one feature of an entertainment layer on the gaming machine during the period of eligibility; and

presenting information regarding an outcome the wagering game on the gaming machine.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, presenting the gaming layer on the gaming machine.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the wagering game is a community event, the triggering of the community event during the period of eligibility allowing an award to be achieved by a user of the gaming machine.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the wagering game is a bonus game, the triggering of the bonus game during the period of eligibility allowing an award to be achieved by a user of the gaming machine.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the entertainment layer is operable in response to at least one input from a player input device, the gaming machine including the player input device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the outcome of the wagering game is independent of a wagering-game input on the gaming device.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising, utilizing the at least one input from the entertainment layer as an input within the wagering game.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the presenting includes providing a notification on the gaming machine regarding the outcome of the wagering game.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the notification is a continuous notification.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the notification interrupts the conducting of the at least one feature of the entertainment layer.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the notification of the outcome of the wagering game is revealed within the entertainment layer as part of the at least one feature of the entertainment layer.

12. A method of providing passive participation in a wagering game, comprising:

receiving funds to obtain a period of eligibility for an award associated with the wagering game;

conducting an entertainment layer having at least one feature;

conducting a gaming layer including the at least one wagering game;

providing a gaming machine including a display and a player input device, the gaming machine being in communication with the entertainment layer and the gaming layer, the display being adapted to present information provided to the gaming machine from the entertainment layer and the gaming layer;

conducting the at least one feature of the entertainment layer during the period of eligibility, the entertainment layer being operable in response to at least one input from the player input device; and

presenting information regarding the wagering game on the gaming machine.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one feature of the entertainment layer is selected from a group consisting of a story, a video feature, a video game, and a web browser.

14. A method of conducting a wagering game, comprising:

providing a handheld gaming machine configured to monitor the wagering game, the handheld gaming machine being in communication with a gaming layer and an entertainment layer, the gaming layer including the wagering game; and

receiving a wager from a player to obtain the handheld gaming machine for a time, the received wager funding the player'"'"'s period of eligibility for the wagering game.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the entertainment layer provides at least one input to the gaming layer during the period of eligibility.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the entertainment layer and the gaming layer are operated independently of each other.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising, providing, via the gaming layer, one or more second wagering games operable on the handheld gaming machine, the second wagering games being funded by second wagers, the period of eligibility being extended in response to one or more second wagers being received.

18. A gaming system for conducting a wagering game, comprising:

a gaming network including at least one game controller and at least one access point;

a wager input device for receiving a wager for the wagering game;

a handheld gaming machine including a controller, at least one display, at least one player input device to permit input of a command to the handheld gaming machine, and a communication device to permit communication between the handheld gaming machine and the gaming network via the at least one access point, the controller of the handheld gaming machine being operative to

(i) present a gaming layer including the wagering game, and

(ii) present an entertainment layer during a period of eligibility for the wagering game in response to a wager being received at the wager input device.

19. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein the gaming layer is conducted by the game controller of the gaming network and the entertainment layer is conducted by the controller of the handheld gaming machine.

20. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein the gaming network includes at least two game controllers being in communication with the handheld gaming machine, a first game controller being operative to conduct the gaming layer, a second game controller being operative to conduct the entertainment layer.

21. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein the gaming network includes at least two access points having a first access point and a second access point, the first access point facilitating the communication between the first game controller and the handheld gaming machine, the second access point facilitating the communication between the second game controller and the handheld gaming machine.

22. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein the first access point encrypts or authenticates the communication between the first game controller and the handheld gaming machine.