Control and configuration of gaming machines based on gaming machine location

• US 7,316,619 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2004
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nelson, Dwayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Kim
• Application Number:
  US10/954,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20050043072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 463/29, 463 40- 42
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 associating one or more gaming machines with a linked progressive based on gaming machine location comprising:

defining a plurality of areas within a gaming establishment, wherein each of said plurality of areas comprises a distinct location within the gaming establishment, and wherein each of said plurality of areas includes a plurality of gaming machines therein;

selecting one or more of said plurality of areas, but not all of said plurality of areas;

specifying at least one linked progressive to associate with the one or more selected areas;

translating machine location data regarding the plurality of gaming machines within each of the one or more selected areas to network address data;

communicating the network address data to a linked progressive system to thereby associate each gaming machine from each plurality of gaming machines with the linked progressive; and

reconfiguring each gaming machine from each plurality of gaming machines from a remote location based upon said linked progressive.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the linked progressive is linked between different casinos.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more selected areas are areas located near entrances to a casino.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein translating comprises converting the location of a gaming machine into a gaming machine identification and thereafter translating the gaming machine identification into a computer network address.

5. A system adapted to associate a plurality of gaming machines with a linked progressive system based on gaming machine location, comprising:

a gaming machine location system configured to generate location data regarding the locations of a plurality of gaming machines within a gaming establishment;

a gaming machine control module adapted to receive gaming machine location data from said gaming machine location system, retrieve operational parameters, select a plurality of subject gaming machines from said plurality of gaming machines based on the respective gaming machine locations, associate said one or more subject gaming machines to the linked progressive system, reconfigure said plurality of subject gaming machines from a remote location based upon linked progressive system parameters, and communicate information regarding said plurality of subject gaming machines to said linked progressive system,

wherein said selection of said plurality of subject gaming machines involves defining a plurality of areas with said gaming establishment, with each defined area having a plurality of gaming machines therein, and selecting one or more, but not all, of said plurality of areas from which gaming machines located therein may be selected; and

a communication apparatus configured to communicate said subject gaming machine information from said gaming machine control module to said linked progressive system.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said subject gaming machine information includes network address information for said plurality of subject gaming machines.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said operational parameters are provided via user input.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein said operational parameters are determined automatically by said gaming machine control module or an associated system module.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein said operational parameters include gaming machine location parameters that define gaming machines located within a defined area or a maximum or minimum proximity to a specified location.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said gaming machine control module is adapted to select only gaming machines located within said defined area or proximity.