Method and apparatus for awarding a bonus on a network of electronic gaming devices during a pre-determined time period

• US 7,037,195 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2002
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Acres Gaming Incorporated (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Iddings, Cara L., Schneider, Richard J., Pitman, Lawrence R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai, Xuan M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, BINH AN DUC
• Application Number:
  US10/189,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20030027638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 29, 463 40- 43
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a time-based bonus system that can be pre-configured to award a certain amount of money to players of networked gaming devices over a certain time period. The amount of bonus money in a bonus pool is predetermined by a casino or other gaming network operator. Additionally, the total amount of bonus money in a particular bonus pool can be divided into multiple smaller bonuses, which can be distributed to many players over the time period in which the bonus pool is operating.

Claims

1. In a gaming network including a plurality of gaming devices, a method of awarding a bonus prize comprising:

determining a duration of a time period in which it is possible for the bonus prize to be awarded;

dividing the duration into a plurality of timeslots;

selecting one of the plurality of timeslots as a winning timeslot during which a pre-determined bonus prize will be made; and

awarding the pre-determined bonus prize after the winning timeslot has been reached.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein awarding a predetermined bonus prize comprises awarding the bonus prize to a player of one of the plurality of gaming devices.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein awarding the bonus prize comprises crediting the account of the player.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein awarding a pre-determined bonus prize comprises awarding a bonus prize that was selected by a player of one of the plurality of gaming devices.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting one of the plurality of timeslots as a winning timeslot comprises randomly selecting one out of the plurality of timeslots as the winning timeslot.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein there are more than one pre-determined bonus prizes, the method further comprising selecting as winning timeslots as many of the plurality of timeslots as there are pre-determined prizes.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein selecting as winning timeslots comprises randomly selecting as winning timeslots as many of the plurality of timeslots as there are pre-determined prizes.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein awarding a pre-determined bonus prize comprises:

after a first winning timeslot has been reached, randomly selecting one of the more than one pre-determined bonus prizes; and

awarding the randomly selected bonus prize.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein awarding the randomly selected bonus prize comprises awarding the randomly selected bonus prize to a randomly selected one of the plurality of gaming devices.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein awarding a pre-determined bonus prize comprises awarding a bonus prize selected by a player.

11. The method of claim 10, further including displaying a visual indication of the more than one pre-determined bonus prizes to the player.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein awarding a pre-determined bonus prize comprises awarding the bonus prize to a randomly selected one of the plurality of gaming devices.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein only a portion of the plurality of gaming devices is eligible to receive the bonus prize.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

generating an indicator on those of the plurality of gaming devices that are eligible to receive the bonus prize prior to the bonus prize being awarded.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein awarding a pre-determined bonus prize comprises awarding a non-cash bonus prize.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein awarding a predetermined bonus prize comprises awarding a non-cash equivalent prize.

17. In a gaming network including a plurality of gaming devices, a method of preparing to award a bonus prize comprising:

authorizing a user as one eligible to prepare the bonus prize;

accepting a starting time of a bonus prize time period;

accepting an ending time of the bonus prize time period;

accepting identification of one or more bonus prizes;

dividing the bonus prize time period into a number of timeslots;

identifying one or more of the number of timeslots as winning timeslots, the number of winning timeslots equal to the number of bonus prizes identified; and

awarding one of the bonus prizes after reaching each of the winning timeslots.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein identifying one or more of the number of timeslots as winning timeslots comprises randomly selecting one or more of the timeslots as winning timeslots.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising scheduling a bonusing process to operate on the gaming network during the starting time and ending time.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the bonusing process comprises:

identifying eligible gaming devices out of the plurality of gaming devices; and

after a first of the winning timeslots has passed, awarding one of the bonus prizes to one of the eligible gaming devices.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein awarding one of the bonus prizes comprises awarding a randomly selected bonus prize.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein awarding one of the bonus prizes comprises awarding one of the bonus prizes to a randomly selected one of the eligible gaming devices.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the bonusing process is structured to operate on the plurality of gaming devices until all of the bonus prizes have been awarded to eligible gaming devices.

24. A bonusing system, comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices coupled to a gaming network; and

a bonus server coupled to the gaming network, the bonus server including;

a scheduler means for pre-selecting when a bonus pool is to be active, the bonus pool having a pre-determined award value in one or more bonus awards,

a time calculator means for determining the duration in which the bonus pool is to be active;

a divider means for dividing the duration into a plurality of timeslots;

a selector means for identifying one of the timeslots as a winning timeslot; and

a randomizer means for selecting a winning gaming device from the plurality of gaming devices after the winning timeslot has passed.

25. The bonusing system of claim 24, further comprising a bonus transmitter means for delivering one of the bonus awards to the winning gaming device.

26. The bonusing system of claim 24, wherein the selector means is structured to randomly select one of the timeslots as a winning timeslot.

27. The bonusing system of claim 24, further comprising an eligibility function means for including only a selected subset of the plurality of gaming devices as eligible to receive the bonus award.