Budget-defined flat rate play contract parameters

• US 7,503,851 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2006
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Robert C., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn; Corbett
• Assistant Examiner(s): Deodhar; Omkar
• Application Number:
  US11/423,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20070015568A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 463/26
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

According to some embodiments, systems, methods, and/or articles of manufacture are associated with operating a gaming device having a flat rate play session or contract costing a flat rate price. The flat rate play session or contract spans multiple plays on the gaming device over a pre-established duration. In some embodiments, an expected cost of the flat rate play session or contract may be determined. In some embodiments, a flat rate play session or contract and/or one or more parameters thereof may be determined based upon a price (or other parameter) that a player is wiling to pay for flat rate play at a gaming device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving an indication of a duration of time for which a player is willing to participate in flat rate play at a gaming device, thereby determining an indicated duration;

determining a desired profit of the flat rate play at the gaming device;

calculating, based at least upon the indicated duration and the desired profit, a target cost for the flat rate play at the gaming device;

determining a particular flat rate play session with an expected cost substantially equal to the target cost and a duration substantially equal to the indicated duration, wherein the flat rate play session is defined by one or more parameters;

determining a retail price of the particular flat rate play session;

outputting an offer for the particular flat rate play session;

receiving an acceptance of the offer; and

initializing play of the flat rate play session in accordance with the one or more parameters.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired profit comprises at least one of a desired profit margin and a desired profit rate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the particular flat rate play session comprises:

determining a plurality of flat rate play sessions;

determining an expected cost for each of the plurality of flat rate play sessions; and

selecting the flat rate play session with the expected cost most substantially equal to the target cost.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the one or more parameters that define the flat rate play session.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving payment in the amount of the retail price prior to initializing the flat rate play session.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the expected cost of the flat rate play session.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the expected cost of the flat rate play session is determined based on at least one of (i) a simulation, (ii) a mathematical simulation, (iii) a mathematical model, and (iv) a history of flat rate play session costs.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters comprises at least one of:

(i) an amount wagered;

(ii) a jackpot structure;

(iii) a time of a day;

(iv) a day of a week;

(v) a day of a month;

(vi) a day of a year;

(vii) a week of a month;

(viii) a week of a year;

(ix) a month of a year;

(x) a type of gaming device;

(xi) a player status rating;

(xii) an availability of a gaming device;

(xiii) a forecasted availability of a gaming device;

(xiv) a number of active jackpots;

(xv) a number of winning plays;

(xvi) a time between plays;

(xvii) a traffic of potential players;

(xviii) stakes of play; and

(xix) an external event.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the one or more parameters defining the flat rate play session.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory storing a program that when executed by the processor results in;

receiving an indication of a duration of time for which a player is willing to participate in flat rate play at a gaming device, thereby determining an indicated duration;

determining a desired profit of the flat rate play at the gaming device;

calculating, based at least upon the indicated duration and the desired profit, a target cost for the flat rate play at the gaming device;

determining, responsive to the indicated duration, a particular flat rate play session with an expected cost substantially equal to the target cost and a duration substantially equal to the indicated duration, wherein the flat rate play session is defined by one or more parameters;

determining a retail price of the particular flat rate play session;

outputting an offer for the particular flat rate play session;

receiving an acceptance of the offer; and

initializing play of the flat rate play session in accordance with the one or more parameters.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

an input device to receive the indication of the duration from the player.

12. A method, comprising:

determining a duration for which a player is willing to participate in flat rate play at a gaming device, thereby determining a determined duration;

determining, in response to determining the duration, one or more parameters that define a particular flat rate play session, wherein the particular flat rate play session is defined by a duration that is substantially equal to the determined duration and which spans a plurality of completed game plays of a game; and

initializing play of the flat rate play session in accordance with the one or more parameters.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the one or more parameters comprises:

determining a target cost for the flat rate play at the gaming device; and

selecting values for the one or more parameters that define the particular flat rate play session to have an expected cost substantially equal to the target cost and that define the particular flat rate play session being of substantially the determined duration.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the particular flat rate play session comprises a plurality of flat rate play sessions, each flat rate play session having a respective duration substantially equal to the determined duration, further comprising:

selecting one of the plurality of flat rate play sessions.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the particular flat rate play session comprises a plurality of flat rate play sessions, each flat reate play session being defined by a respective duration substantially equal to the determined duration, further comprising:

providing a menu of the plurality of flat rate play sessions to the player.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a menu selection made by the player.