Method and apparatus for monitoring or controlling a gaming machine based on gaming machine location

• US 6,843,725 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2002
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nelson, Dwayne
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIM T
• Application Number:
  US10/072,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20030148809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 463 29- 31, 463/25, 463/35, 463 39- 40, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/40
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 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 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players

Abstract

A method and apparatus for tracking and determining a location of a gaming machine or other item within a casino or hotel is disclosed. In one embodiment the method and apparatus utilizes a transmitter or emitter to provide a tracking signal that may be tracked by one or more receivers or detectors. It is contemplated that the transmitter or emitter connect to a gaming machine. As the gaming machine is relocated within the casino its location is monitored. The one or more receivers may communicate with a host computer or other data processing system to generate location data regarding the gaming machine in relation to other aspects of the casino. Based on the location information generated by the location monitoring and tracking system, other aspects of machine operation may be controlled and additional features dependant on the machine location information may be enabled.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing an aspect of operation for two or more gaming machines comprising:

defining a distance parameter;

defining one or more reference gaming machines;

analyzing the location of one or more gaming machines in relation to said one or more reference gaming machines and the distance parameter to form a subset of gaming machines;

generating a control signal to control operation of the aspect of gaming machine operation; and

transmitting the control signal to the subset of gaming machines to thereby control the aspect of operation of the subset of gaming machines.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the aspect of gaming machine operation comprises audio emitted from a gaming machine of said subset of gaming machines.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein an aspect of gaming machine operation comprises video shown on a video screen of a gaming machine of said subset of gaming machines.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the distance parameter comprises data regarding which gaming machines will have the aspect of operation synchronized.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the control signals occurs over a computer network.

6. A system for controlling two or more gaming machines upon an occurrence of a winning event, the system comprising:

a gaming machine location system configured to generate location data regarding the locations of a plurality of gaming machines in relation to a gaming machine having a winning event;

a computing device configured to;

receive winning event data regarding said winning event at said gaming machine;

control at least one aspect of gaming machine operation;

process the location data and the winning event data to generate control signals directed to said two or more gaming machines; and

a communication apparatus configured to communicate the control signals from the computing device to said two or more gaming machines.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the control signals comprise signals that control operation of at least one of a gaming machine audio, gaming machine visual indicators, and gaming machine video.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the computing device comprises a computing device configured to processes the location data and the winning event to determine which gaming machines are located within a minimum distance from the gaming machine having the occurrence of the winning event.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein only gaming machines located within the minimum distance receive the control signals.

10. A method for highlighting occurrence of a winning event on a gaming machine by causing other proximately located gaming machines to react to the winning event, the method comprising:

detecting a winning event, the winning event occurring at a first gaming machine;

processing location data regarding the first gaming machine to determine which additional gaming machines are proximately located to the first gaming machine;

generating control instructions to control one or more aspects of one or more selected gaming machines from said proximately located additional gaming machines; and

transmitting the control instructions to said one or more selected gaming machines from said proximately located additional gaming machines.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein processing location data compares the distance between the first gaming machine and the additional gaming machines to determine which additional gaming machines are proximately located.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the control instructions control light and audio activation on said one or more selected gaming machines receiving the control instructions.

13. The method of claim 10, further including determining a location of the first gaming machine.