Method and apparatus for operating multiple games on a network of gaming devices

• US 7,749,077 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2001
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Wiebenson, David, Ginsburg, Alec, Acres, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hotaling, II; John M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rowland; Steve
• Application Number:
  US09/827,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20030228904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,378 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 463 25- 29, 463/40, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/27
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• 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 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots

Abstract

A system for monitoring and configuring gaming devices interconnected over a high-speed network is disclosed. The system can support a file server, one or more floor controllers, one or more pit terminals, and other terminals all interconnected over the network. Each gaming device includes an electronic module which allows the gaming device to communicate with a floor controller over a current loop network. The electronic module includes a player tracking module and a data communication node. The player tracking module includes a card reader for detecting a player tracking card inserted therein which identifies the player. The data communication node communicates with both the floor controller and the gaming device. The data communication node communicates with the gaming device over a serial interface through which the data communication node transmits reconfiguration commands. The gaming device reconfigures its payout schedule responsive to the reconfiguration commands to provide a variety of promotional bonuses such as multiple jackpot bonuses, mystery jackpot bonuses, progressive jackpot bonuses, or player specific bonuses.

Claims

1. A progressive gaming system comprising:

a central computer coupled, at least indirectly, to gaming terminals each of which is coupled to a notification device for indicating the win of a progressive prize;

a first plurality of said gaming terminals being eligible for a first progressive prize, based on first contributions from said first plurality of gaming terminals;

a second plurality of said gaming terminals being eligible for a second progressive prize, based on second contributions from said second plurality of gaming terminals;

said central computer receiving information regarding said first contributions and transmitting information, when said first progressive prize has been won, to indicate a win using said notification device coupled to one of said first plurality of gaming terminals; and

said central computer receiving information regarding said second contributions and transmitting information when said second progressive prize has been won, to indicate a win using said notification device coupled to one of said second plurality of gaming terminals;

wherein the same said central computer calculates both the amount of said first progressive prize, when said first progressive prize has been won, and the amount of said second progressive prize, when said second progressive prize has been won.

2. A progressive gaming system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second pluralities of gaming terminals have at least one gaming terminal in common.

3. A progressive gaming system, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a cluster controller which receives contribution information from at least some of said first plurality of gaming terminals and transmits said information regarding said first contributions to said central computer.

4. A progressive gaming system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said central computer is constructed and arranged to select which gaming terminals to include in the first plurality of gaming terminals.

5. A progressive gaming system, as claimed in claim 4, wherein said central computer is constructed and arranged to select which gaming terminals to include in the second plurality of gaming terminals.

6. A progressive gaming system, as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a user-operated input device coupled to said central computer to permit such gaming terminal selection responsive to user-effected action at said input device.

7. A progressive gaming system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said notification device comprises a display.

8. A progressive gaming system, as claimed in claim 7, wherein said display comprises a casino display.

9. A progressive gaming system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said notification device comprises means for making a bonus pay at one of said gaming terminals.

10. A progressive gaming system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said notification device comprises a credit meter that increments in response to a prize win.

11. A progressive gaming system comprising a central computer coupled, at least indirectly, to gaming terminals each of which is coupled to a notification device for indicating the win of a progressive prize;

a first plurality of said gaming terminals being eligible for a first progressive prize, based on first contributions from said first plurality of gaming terminals;

a second plurality of said gaming terminals being eligible for a second progressive prize, based on second contributions from said second plurality of gaming terminals;

said central computer receiving information regarding said first contributions and transmitting information, when said first progressive prize has been won, to indicate a win using said notification device coupled to one of said first plurality of gaming terminals; and

said central computer receiving information regarding said second contributions and transmitting information, when said second progressive prize has been won, to indicate a win using said notification device coupled to one of said second plurality of gaming terminals;

wherein each of said first plurality of gaming terminals, following play on said gaming terminal, provides an output indicative of a result of said play;

wherein said central computer repeatedly receives, stores or transmits information indicative of a decision as to whether said first progressive prize has been won; and

wherein said decision is independent of said result of play in any of said first plurality of gaming terminals.

12. A progressive gaming system as claimed in claim 11 wherein a decision that said first progressive prize has been won is made only after an event selected from the group consisting of a push of a button, a predetermined result from a spin of a wheel of fortune, and a draw of a predetermined token from a plurality of tokens.

13. A progressive gaming system as claimed in claim 11 wherein a decision that said first progressive prize has been won is made only after passage of a randomly selected time duration following a predetermined event.

14. A progressive gaming system, as claimed in claim 11, wherein said central computer is constructed and arranged to select which gaming terminals to include in the first plurality of gaming terminals.

15. A progressive gaming system, as claimed in claim 14, wherein said central computer is constructed and arranged to select which gaming terminals to include in the second plurality of gaming terminals.

16. A progressive gaming system, as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a user-operated input device coupled to said central computer to permit such gaming terminal selection responsive to user-effected action at said input device.

17. A progressive gaming system, as claimed in claim 11, wherein said notification device comprises a display.

18. A progressive gaming system, as claimed in claim 17, wherein said display comprises a casino display.

19. A progressive gaming system, as claimed in claim 11, wherein said notification device comprises means for making a bonus pay at one of said gaming terminals.

20. A progressive gaming system, as claimed in claim 11, wherein said notification device comprises a credit meter that increments in response to a prize win.

21. A method for providing a progressive gaming system implemented using central computer coupled, at least indirectly, to gaming terminals each of which is coupled to a notification device for indicating the win of a progressive prize, the method comprising:

receiving, in said central computer, first information indicating contributions towards a first progressive prize from a first plurality of said gaming terminals eligible for said progressive prize;

receiving, in said central computer, second information indicating contributions towards a second progressive prize from a second plurality of said gaming terminals eligible for said second progressive prize;

transmitting from said central computer, when said first progressive prize has been won, information for activating at least one notification device coupled to one of said first plurality of gaming terminals; and

transmitting from said central computer, when said second progressive prize has been won, information for activating at least one notification device coupled to one of said second plurality of gaming terminals.

22. A method, as claimed in claim 21, wherein said first and second pluralities of gaming terminals have at least one gaming terminal in common.

23. A method, as claimed in claim 21, further comprising:

receiving, in a cluster controller, contribution information from at least some of said first plurality of gaming terminals and transmitting said information regarding said first contributions from said cluster controller to said central computer.

24. A method as claimed in claim 21 further comprising:

providing output, by each of said first plurality of gaming terminals, following play on said gaming terminal, indicative of a result of said play; and

repeatedly transmitting information to said central computer indicative of a decision as to whether said first progressive prize has been won wherein said decision is independent of said result of play in any of said first plurality of gaming terminals.

25. A method, as claimed in claim 24 wherein a decision that said first progressive prize has been won is made only after an event selected from the group consisting of a push of a button, a predetermined result from a spin of a wheel of fortune, and a draw of a predetermined token from a plurality of tokens.

26. A method as claimed in claim 24 wherein a decision that said first progressive prize has been won is made only after passage of a randomly selected time duration following a predetermined event.

27. A method, as claimed in claim 21, further comprising selecting which gaming terminals to include in the first plurality of gaming terminals responsive to central computer action.

28. A method, as claimed in claim 27, further comprising selecting which gaming terminals to include in the second plurality of gaming terminals responsive to central computer action.

29. A method, as claimed in claim 28, wherein said central computer is coupled to a user-operated input device and wherein selecting which gaming terminals to include comprises selecting gaming terminals responsive to user-effected action at said input device.

30. A method, as claimed in claim 21, wherein said notification device comprises a display.

31. A method, as claimed in claim 30, wherein said display comprises a casino display.

32. A method, as claimed in claim 21, wherein said method further includes activating the notification device and wherein activating the notification device comprises making a bonus pay at one of said gaming terminals.

33. A method, as claimed in claim 32, wherein making a bonus pay further comprises incrementing a credit meter.

34. Apparatus for providing a progressive gaming system implemented using a central computer coupled, at least indirectly, to gaming terminals each of which is coupled to a notification device for indicating the win of a progressive prize, the apparatus comprising:

means, in said central computer, for;

receiving, first information indicating contributions towards a first progressive prize from a first plurality of said gaming terminals eligible for said first progressive prize; and

receiving, second information indicating contributions towards a second progressive prize from a second plurality of said gaming terminals eligible for said second progressive prize; and

means, in said central computer, for;

transmitting from said central computer, when said first progressive prize has been won, information for activating at least one notification device coupled to one of said first plurality of gaming terminals; and

transmitting from said central computer, when said second progressive prize has been won, information for activating at least one notification device coupled to one of said second plurality of gaming terminals.

35. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 34, wherein said central computer is constructed and arranged to select which gaming terminals to include in the first plurality of gaming terminals.

36. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 35, wherein said central computer is constructed and arranged to select which gaming terminals to include in the second plurality of gaming terminals.

37. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 36, further comprising a user-operated input device coupled to said central computer to permit such gaming terminal selection responsive to user-effected action at said input device.

38. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 34, wherein said notification device comprises a display.

39. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 38, wherein said notification device comprises a casino display.

40. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 34, wherein said notification device comprises means for making a bonus pay at one of said gaming terminals.

41. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 34, wherein said notification device comprises a credit meter that increments in response to a prize win.