Combined behavior schedules of reinforcement system

• US 20100298052A1
• Filed: 05/22/2009
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Antonio Mariano Parrottino
• Original Assignee: Antonio Mariano Parrottino
• Inventors: Parrottino, Antonio Mariano
• Granted Patent: US 8,974,286 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• 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

Abstract

Disclosed is a device to modify the behavior of a user and a method of operating the device. The device may be a gaming device. The gaming device comprises a display, an input device, a timer and a processor circuit in communication with the display, the input device and the timer. The processor circuit calculates a frequency of inputs from the input device and determines a game result utilizing a combined differential reinforcement of high rate schedule and a variable interval schedule and causes the display to display the game result to the user. The method comprises receiving a plurality of inputs from the user at a user input device, calculating a frequency of input from the plurality of inputs, determining a result from the inputs utilizing a combined differential reinforcement of high rate schedule and a variable interval schedule and providing the result to said user.

Claims

1. A method of operating a device to modify a behavior of a user, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of inputs from the user at a user input device;

calculating a frequency of input from said plurality of inputs;

determining a result of said inputs utilizing a combined differential reinforcement of high rate schedule and a variable interval schedule; and

providing said result to said user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said device is a gaming device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said determining comprises comparing said frequency of input against a predetermined threshold wherein said result is determined according to a variable interval schedule when said frequency is above said predetermined threshold.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising providing a visual representation to said user representing frequency of input to said user at an output device.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising displaying said result to said user on a display.

6. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing the method of claim 1.

7. A gaming device comprising:

a display;

an input device for receiving inputs from a user;

a timer; and

a processor circuit in communication with said display, said input device and said timer which calculates a frequency of inputs from said input device and determines a game result utilizing a combined differential reinforcement of high rate schedule and a variable interval schedule, said processor circuit being operable to cause said display to display said game result to said user.

8. The gaming device of claim 7 wherein said processor circuit compares said frequency of inputs against a predetermined threshold wherein said game result is determined according to said variable interval schedule when said frequency is above a predetermined threshold.

9. The gaming device of claim 8 wherein said game result is determined according to one of a plurality of variable interval schedules wherein each of said plurality of variable interval schedules has a predetermined threshold.

10. The gaming device of claim 9 wherein each of said variable interval schedules has a unique predetermined threshold.

11. The gaming device of claim 9 wherein said each of said plurality of variable interval schedules has a unique amount level at which gaming results are provided to a user

12. The gaming device of claim 8 wherein said game result is determined according to first variable interval schedule when said frequency is above said predetermined threshold and wherein said game result is set to a negative result when said frequency is below said predetermined threshold.

13. The gaming device of claim 7 wherein said processor circuit is operable to cause said display to provide a prompt to said user, said prompt instructing said user to provide inputs at a greater frequency when said frequency of inputs is below said predetermined threshold.

14. The gaming device of claim 7 further comprising an indicator for providing an indication to said user representing said frequency of inputs as calculated by said processor circuit.

15. The gaming device of claim 14 wherein said processor circuit causes said indicator to indicate to said user that said frequency of inputs is greater than a predetermined threshold.

16. The gaming device of claim 15 wherein said indicator comprises a visual indicator.