System and method for automated play of multiple gaming devices

• US 6,969,317 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2002
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Sparico, Thomas M., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rada, Rinaldi I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARADISO, JOHN ROGER
• Application Number:
  US10/159,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20020151358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/17, 463/20, 273/292, 273/293, 273/143.R
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3286 Type of games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A method according to one embodiment of the present invention provides for receiving a request for an automated session. The automated session comprises a plurality of games. The method further provides for initiating a first game of the automated session, the first game corresponding to a first gaming device, and initiating a second game of the automated session, the second game corresponding to a second gaming device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request for an automated session, in which the automated session comprises a plurality of games;

determining at least one session parameter associated with the automated session;

initiating a first game of the automated session, the first game corresponding to a first game device;

initiating a second game of the automated session, the second game corresponding to a second game device; and

terminating the automated session based on the at least one session parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting locking data to the first game device.

3. The method of claim 1, in which the first game device is locked-up.

4. The method of claim 1, in which initiating the first game comprises:

initiating the first game based on the at least one session parameter.

5. The method of claim 1, in which the at least one session parameter comprises at least one of:

a bet amount,

a type of game,

a period of time between games,

a start time,

an end time,

a number of games,

the credit balance,

a number of losses,

a number of wins,

an amount lost,

an amount won,

a number of plays without a win,

a number of plays without a loss,

a rate of loss, and

a rate of winning.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the first game should be included in the automated session based on the first outcome data and the at least one session parameter.

7. The method of claim 1, in which initiating the first game comprises:

transmitting a signal to the first device, the signal being instructive to generate an outcome at the first device.

8. The method of claim 1, in which initiating the first game comprises:

determining outcome data corresponding to at least one game at the first game device.

9. The method of claim 8, in which determining the outcome data comprises:

receiving the outcome data from the first game device.

10. The method of claim 8, in which the at least one game is initiated by a player at the first game device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving first outcome data that corresponds to the first game, in which the first outcome data comprises at least one of;

a reel position,

a reel symbol,

a card, and

a payout.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining a first payout based on the first outcome data.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining a player identifier that identifies a player; and

transmitting at least a portion of the first outcome data to the player.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining a communication device based on the player identifier; and

in which transmitting comprises;

transmitting the at least a portion of the first outcome data to the communication device.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to initiate the second game.

16. The method of claim 15, in which initiating the second game comprises:

initiating the second game after receiving the request.

17. The method of claim 15, in which initiating the second game comprises:

transmitting a signal to the second game device after receiving the request, the signal being instructive to generate an outcome at the second game device.

18. The method of claim 15, in which initiating the second game comprises:

determining outcome data corresponding to at least one game played at the second game device after receiving the request.

19. A method comprising:

determining at least one session parameter corresponding to an automated session, in which the automated session corresponds to a set of at least one outcome;

receiving first outcome data corresponding to at least one outcome generated at a first game device;

receiving second outcome data corresponding to at least one outcome generated at a second game device;

terminating the automated session based on the at least one session parameter; and

determining the set of at least one outcome based on the at least one session parameter, the first outcome data, and the second outcome data.

20. The method of claim 19, in which determining the set of at least one outcome comprises:

determining, based on the first outcome data and the at least one session parameter, whether to include the at least one outcome generated at the first game device in the set; and

determining, based on the second outcome data and the at least one session parameter, whether to include the at least one outcome generated at the second game device in the set,

in which the at least one session parameter comprises at least one of;

a bet amount,

a type of game,

a period of time between games,

a start time,

an end time,

number of games,

the credit balance,

a number of losses,

a number of wins,

an amount lost,

an amount won,

a number of plays without a win,

a number of plays without a loss,

a rate of loss, and

a rate of winning;

determining session data based on the set;

determining a player associated with the automated session; and

transmitting at least a portion of the session data to the player.

21. The method of claim 19, in which the at least one session parameter comprises at least one of:

a bet amount,

a type of game,

a period of time between games,

a start time,

an end time,

a number of games,

the credit balance,

a number of losses,

a number of wins,

an amount lost,

an amount won,

a number of plays without a win,

a number of plays without a loss,

rate of loss, and

a rate of winning.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

determining a communication device associated with the automated session;

determining session data based on the set; and

transmitting at least a portion of the session data to the communication device.

23. A method comprising:

receiving a request for an automated session, in which the automated session comprises a plurality of games;

initiating a first game of the automated session, the first game corresponding to a first game device,

initiating a second game of the automated session, the second game corresponding to a second game device;

receiving a player identifier that identifies a player;

determining an account based on the player identifier;

determining a credit balance of the account;

determining at least one session parameter comprising at least one of;

a bet amount,

a type of game,

a period of time between games,

a start time,

an end time,

a number of games,

the credit balance,

a number of losses,

a number of wins,

an amount lost,

an amount won,

a number of plays without a win,

a number of plays without a loss,

a rate of loss, and

a rate of winning;

receiving first outcome data that corresponds to the first game, in which the first outcome data comprises at least one of;

a reel position,

a reel symbol,

a card, and

a payout;

determining a first payout based on the first outcome data;

crediting the account based on the first payout;

determining first session data based on the first outcome data, in which the first session data comprises at least one of;

the reel position,

the reel symbol,

the card,

a number of games remaining,

a number of games played,

the first payout, and

the credit balance;

determining a communication device based on the player identifier;

transmitting at least a portion of the first session data to the communication device;

receiving second outcome data that corresponds to the second game;

determining a second payout based on the second outcome data;

crediting the account based on the second payout;

determining second session data based on the second outcome data;

transmitting at least a portion of the second session data to the communication device;

determining a limiting criterion based on the at least one session parameter;

determining if the limiting criterion has occurred; and

terminating the automated session if the limiting criterion has occurred.

24. A method comprising:

receiving first data associated with a session of automated play of a slot machine, the first data representative of at least one of;

an end time for the session of automated play,

a maximum number of plays;

a wager amount, and

a rate of automated play;

determining a first balance associated with the session of automated play;

determining at least one outcome of automated play of the slot machine,

in which manual play of the slot machine is not allowed at least during the session of automated play;

determining a second balance associated with the session of automated play based on the at least one outcome;

terminating the session of automated play based on at least one of;

the first data, and

the second balance; and

transmitting a signal to a controller, in which the signal indicates at least one of;

the at least one outcome, and

the second balance.

25. A method comprising:

receiving first data representative of at least one of;

an end time for automated play,

a maximum number of plays;

a wager amount, and

a rate of automated play;

initiating automated play of a slot machine,

in which manual play of the slot machine is not allowed at least during the automated play;

terminating the automated play of the slot machine based on the first data; and

transmitting second data based on the automated play to a remote player.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

transmitting locking data to the slot machine.

27. The method of claim 25, in which the slot machine is configured to prevent the slot machine from entering a manual mode.

28. The method of claim 25, in which the slot machine is configured to prevent the slot machine from accepting coins.

29. The method of claim 25, in which the slot machine is configured to prevent pulling of a pull handle.

30. The method of claim 25, in which the slot machine is configured so that no player may operate the slot machine manually during the automated play.

31. The method of claim 25, in which the slot machine is configured to prevent manual operation of the slot machine.

32. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

preventing manual play of the slot machine.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

enabling manual play of the slot machine after terminating the automated play.

34. The method of claim 25, in which transmitting the second data comprises:

determining a communication device that is associated with the remote player; and

transmitting the second data to the communication device.

35. The method of claim 34, in which the communication device comprises a pager.

36. The method of claim 34, in which the communication device comprises a handheld device.

37. The method of claim 34, in which the communication device comprises a telephone.

38. The method of claim 34, in which the communication device comprises a personal digital assistant.

39. The method of claim 34, in which the communication device comprises a set-top display device.

40. The method of claim 34, in which the communication device is associated with an internet protocol address.

41. The method of claim 25, in which transmitting the second data comprises:

transmitting the second data via wireless communication.

42. The method of claim 25, in which the slot machine is not operable to receive a request to initiate manual play.

43. The method of claim 25, in which the slot machine is not operable to determine an outcome of a manually-initiated play.

44. The method of claim 25, in which the slot machine is not available for manual play.

45. A method comprising:

receiving first data associated with a remote player, the first data representative of at least one of;

a wager amount, and

a maximum number of plays;

initiating automated play of a slot machine;

preventing manual play of the slot machine at least during the automated play;

terminating the automated play of the slot machine based on the first data;

receiving a first signal from the slot machine, in which the first signal indicates at least one outcome of the automated play;

generating a second signal that indicates the at least one outcome of the automated play;

determining at least one communication device that is associated with the remote player; and

transmitting a second signal to the at least one communication device.

46. A method comprising:

receiving an indication of at least one outcome of automated play of a slot machine,

in which the automated play of the slot machine is associated with a remote player,

in which the automated play of the slot machine is terminated based on at least one preference selected by the remote player, and

in which the slot machine is unavailable for manual play at least during the automated play;

determining at least one handheld device that is associated with the remote player; and

transmitting a second signal to the at least one handheld device,

in which the second signal represents the at least one outcome of the automated play.