Method and apparatus for operating networked gaming devices

• US 6,832,958 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2003
• Issued: 12/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Acres Gaming Incorporated (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Wiebenson, David, Ginsburg, Alec, Acres, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): HARRISON, JESSICA
• Application Number:
  US10/443,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20040002378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42, 463/40, 463/27, 463/25, 463/20, 463/16, 273/138.A, 273/143.R
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots

Abstract

A system for monitoring and configuring gaming devices interconnected over a high-speed network is disclosed. The system can support a file server, one or more floor controllers, one or more pit terminals, and other terminals all interconnected over the network. Each gaming device includes an electronic module which allows the gaming device to communicate with a floor controller over a current loop network. The electronic module includes a player tracking module and a data communication node. The player tracking module includes a card reader for detecting a player tracking card inserted therein which identifies the player. The data communication node communicates with both the floor controller and the gaming device. The data communication node communicates with the gaming device over a serial interface through which the data communication node transmits reconfiguration commands. The gaming device reconfigures its payout schedule responsive to the reconfiguration commands to provide a variety of promotional bonuses such as multiple jackpot bonuses, mystery jackpot bonuses, progressive jackpot bonuses, or player specific bonuses.

Claims

1. A system for operating gaming devices, comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices;

a network connecting the plurality of gaming devices;

means for selecting gaming devices for a bonus period; and

means for transmitting the bonus period and a duration for the bonus period to the selected gaming devices.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a host computer, the host computer including the selector and the transmitter.

3. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a bonus pool accumulated from all of the gaming devices.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein:

the system further comprises a turn-on level for the bonus pool; and

the selector selects a first gaming device from the plurality of gaming devices based on the first gaming device accumulating the bonus pool to the turn-on level.

5. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a bonus pool accumulated from the selected gaming devices.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein:

the system further comprises a turn-on level for the bonus pool; and

the selector selects a first gaming device from the plurality of gaming devices based on the first gaming device accumulating the bonus pool to the turn-on level.

7. A method for operating gaming devices interconnected by a network, comprising:

determining a duration for the bonus period;

determining a start for a bonus period;

selecting gaming devices on the network for the bonus period;

transmitting a characteristic of the bonus period to the selected gaming devices; and

transmitting the duration for the bonus period to the selected gaming devices.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein transmitting a characteristic and transmitting the duration are performed in a single transmission.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein transmitting a characteristic includes:

detecting a player at a first gaming device;

associating a player account with the player detected at the first gaming device; and

determining the characteristic of the bonus period using the player account.

10. A method according to claim 7, further comprising accumulating a bonus pool from the gaming devices.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein:

determining a start for a bonus period includes determining a turn-on level for the bonus pool; and

selecting gaming devices includes selecting a first gaming device from the gaming devices, the first gaming device accumulating the bonus pool to the turn-on level.

12. A method according to claim 7, further comprising accumulating a bonus pool from the selected gaming devices.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein:

determining a start for a bonus period includes determining a turn-on level for the bonus pool; and

selecting gaming devices includes selecting a first gaming device from the gaming devices, the first gaming device accumulating the bonus pool to the turn-on level.

14. Computer-readable media containing a program to operate gaming devices interconnected by a network, comprising:

software to determine a duration for the bonus period;

software to determine a start for a bonus period;

software to select gaming devices on the network for the bonus period;

software to transmit a characteristic of the bonus period to the selected gaming device; and

software to transmit the duration for the bonus period to the selected gaming devices.

15. Computer-readable media containing a program according to claim 14, wherein the software to transmit a characteristic and the software to transmit the duration send the characteristic and the duration for the bonus period in a single message.

16. Computer-readable media containing a program according to claim 14, wherein the software to transmit a characteristic includes:

software to detect a player at a first gaming device;

software to associate a player account with the player detected at the first gaming device; and

software to determine the characteristic of the bonus period using the player account.

17. Computer-readable media containing a program according to claim 14, further comprising software to accumulate a bonus pool from the gaming devices.

18. Computer-readable media containing a program according to claim 17, wherein:

the software to determine a start for a bonus period includes software to determine a turn-on level for the bonus pool; and

the software to select gaming devices includes software to select a first gaming device from the gaming devices, the first gaming device accumulating the bonus pool to the turn-on level.

19. Computer-readable media containing a program according to claim 14, further comprising software to accumulate a bonus pool from the selected gaming devices.

20. Computer-readable media containing a program according to claim 19, wherein:

the software to determine a start for a bonus period includes software to determine a turn-on level for the bonus pool; and

the software to select gaming devices includes software to select a first gaming device from the gaming devices, the first gaming device accumulating the bonus pool to the turn-on level.