System and method for automated play of multiple gaming devices

• US 7,753,793 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2006
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Sparico, Thomas M., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US11/422,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20060217177A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,497 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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, 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 gaming device; and initiating a second game of the automated session, the second game corresponding to a second gaming device.

Claims

1. A portable communication device comprising:

a display element; and

a controller configured to operate with the display element to;

enable remote play of a wagering game of a gaming device, the gaming device configured to;

(a) determine that remote play of the wagering game has been requested,

(b) after determining that remote play has been requested, lock to prevent any local play of the wagering game,

(c) after locking, determine an outcome of the requested remote play of the wagering game, and

(d) after determining the outcome of the requested remote play of the wagering game, unlock to enable local play of the wagering game;

receive data indicative of the outcome of the play of the wagering game; and

cause the display element to display a representation of the received data indicative of the outcome.

2. The portable communication device of claim 1, which is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a pager, a handheld display device, a set-top display device, and a cellular telephone.

3. The portable communication device of claim 1, which includes a housing, the controller and the display element each being supported by the housing.

4. The portable communication device of claim 1, the controller being a first controller configured to communicate wirelessly with a second controller of a server separate from the portable communication device.

5. The portable communication device of claim 1, further comprising a user interface device, the controller configured to operate with the user interface device to receive an input from a player.

6. The portable communication device of claim 5, the controller being configured to receive the input from the player indicative of a request to change an aspect of the wagering game from the player.

7. The portable communication device of claim 5, the input being related to a configuration of an automated play session.

8. The portable communication device of claim 7, the controller being configured to:

receive the input related to the configuration of the automated play session following an initiation of the automated play session, and

send data indicative of the configuration of the automated play session to the gaming device to cause the gaming device to adjust the configuration of the automated play session.

9. The portable communication device of claim 5, the controller being configured to receive the input from the player by receiving, using the user interface, data indicative of an initiation of play of the gaming device.

10. The portable communication device of claim 5, the controller being configured to transmit an indication of the input to another device.

11. The portable communication device of claim 10, the controller being configured to wirelessly transmit the indication of the input to another device.

12. The portable communication device of claim 10, the controller being configured to transmit the indication of the input to the gaming device.

13. The portable communication device of claim 5, the input including an indication of at least one play option.

14. The portable communication device of claim 13, the at least one play option including information usable to define automated play of the gaming device.

15. The portable communication device of claim 14, the information usable to define automated play of the gaming device including at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a bet per game, a time between games, a type of gaming device to be played remotely, and a characteristic of a gaming device to be played remotely.

16. The portable communication device of claim 5, the input including at least one limiting criterion for play of the wagering game.

17. The portable communication device of claim 16, the at least one limiting criterion for play of the wagering game including information that defines a beginning of any automated play session or an end of any automated play session.

18. The portable communication device of claim 17, the at least one limiting criterion including at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a start time, an end time, a requested number of games, a total loss amount, a total win amount, a minimum credit balance, a maximum credit balance, and a maximum payout.

19. The portable communication device of claim 16, the input including an adjustment of the at least one limiting criterion, and the input being received after the controller causes the display element to display the representation of the received data indicative of the outcome to a player.

20. The portable communication device of claim 5, the input including an indication of additional funds to be added to a credit meter balance associated with the play of the wagering game, the controller being configured to cause a displayed value of the credit meter balance to change based on the indication of additional funds.

21. The portable communication device of claim 1, the controller being configured to receive the data indicative of the outcome of the play of the wagering game over a wireless network.

22. The portable communication device of claim 1, the controller being configured to receive the data indicative of the outcome of the play of the game from a server.

23. The portable communication device of claim 1, the controller being configured to receive the data indicative of the play of the wagering game from the gaming device.

24. The portable communication device of claim 1, the controller being configured to receive the data indicative of the outcome by receiving an indication of a payout amount associated with the outcome.

25. The portable communication device of claim 24, the gaming device being a slot machine, and the indication of the payout amount including an indication of a position of a reel along a payline of the slot machine.

26. The portable communication device of claim 1, the controller being further configured to:

determine data indicative of a credit balance associated with the play of the wagering game; and

cause the display element to display a representation of the credit balance.

27. The portable communication device of claim 1, the controller being configured to receive the data indicative of the outcome in real time as the gaming device determines said outcome.

28. The portable communication device of claim 27, the controller being configured to cause the display element to display the representation of the received data upon the determination of the outcome of the play of the game.

29. The portable communication device of claim 1, further comprising a storage device, the controller being configured to operate with the storage device to store the received data indicative of the outcome receiving said data.

30. The portable communication device of claim 29, the controller being configured to cause the display element to display the representation at a designated time.

31. The portable communication device of claim 29, the controller being configured to cause the display element to display the representation after an expiration of a period of time following displaying a representation of a previously determined outcome.

32. The portable communication device of claim 29, the controller being configured to cause the display element to display the representation in response to a request from a player for said display.

33. The portable communication device of claim 1, the controller being configured to receive the data indicative of the outcome of the play of the wagering game at a designated time.

34. The portable communication device of claim 1, the controller being configured to receive the data indicative of the outcome of the play of the wagering game after an expiration of a period of time following receiving data indicative of a previously-determined outcome.

35. The portable communication device of claim 1, the controller being configured to receive the data indicative of the outcome of the play of the wagering game as part of a set of data indicating a plurality of outcomes of a plurality of plays of the wagering game determined by at least said gaming device.

36. The portable communication device of claim 1, the controller being configured to receive the data indicative of the outcome of the play of the wagering game upon receiving a request to view the representation from a player.

37. The portable communication device of claim 1, the controller being configured to receive at least one selection parameter from a player and to cause the representation of the received data indicative of the outcome to be displayed in accordance with the at least one selection parameter.

38. The portable communication device of claim 37, the controller being configured to receive the at least one selection parameter based on an input by the player at a user interface of the gaming device.

39. The portable communication device of claim 37, the controller being configured to receive the at least one selection parameter based on an input by the player at a user interface of the portable communication device.

40. The portable communication device of claim 1, the controller being configured to cause the display element to display the representation as part of a presentation including multiple representations, each representation of the presentation representing a distinct outcome of one play of the wagering game.

41. The portable communication device of claim 1, the controller being configured to receive a message other than the data indicative of the outcome of the play of the wagering game, and to cause the display element to display the message.

42. The portable communication device of claim 41, wherein the message relates to a status of the gaming device.

43. The portable communication device of claim 41, wherein the message relates to a status of an automated gaming session.

44. The portable communication device of claim 41, the message including an offer associated with the portable communication device, the offer defining a benefit providable in exchange for a forfeiture by a player of a payment due to the player.

45. The portable communication device of claim 44, the benefit including a reduced price for a stay in a hotel associated with a casino in which the gaming device is located.

46. The portable communication device of claim 1, which is an accessory device of the gaming device, and which may be detached from the gaming device to enable remote play of the gaming device.

47. The portable communication device of claim 46, the controller being configured to enable remote play of the gaming device upon a determination that a player has provided a payment associated with the remote play.

48. A computer readable medium encoded with instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive data indicative of an outcome of a wagering game, the wagering game being conducted by a gaming device, the gaming device configured to;

(a) determine that remote play of the wagering game has been requested,

(b) after determining that remote play of the wagering game has been requested, lock to prevent any local play of the wagering game,

(c) after locking, determine an outcome of the requested remote play of the wagering game,

(d) after determining the outcome of the requested remote play of the wagering game, unlock to enable local play of the wagering game, and

(e) generate data indicative of the representation of the outcome of the wagering game; and

cause a representation of the outcome indicated by the received data to be displayed using a display element of a portable communication device.

49. The computer readable medium of claim 48, further encoded with instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive an input from a player of the wagering game.

50. The computer readable medium of claim 49, the input including a request to change an aspect of the wagering game received as the gaming device conducts said wagering game.

51. The computer readable medium of claim 49, the input relating to a configuration of an automated play session conducted by the gaming device.

52. The computer readable medium of claim 49, the input including data indicative of an initiation of a play of the wagering game at the gaming device.

53. The computer readable medium of claim 49, further encoded with instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to transmit an indication of the input to another device.

54. The computer readable medium of claim 53, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to wirelessly transmit the indication of the input to another device.

55. The computer readable medium of claim 53, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to transmit the indication of the input to the gaming device.

56. The computer readable medium of claim 49, wherein the input comprises an indication of at least one play option.

57. The computer readable medium of claim 49, wherein the input comprises at least one limiting criterion of play.

58. The computer readable medium of claim 49, further encoded with instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to modify an operation of the gaming device in response to the input.

59. The computer readable medium of claim 48, the data indicative of the outcome including an indication of a payout amount corresponding to the outcome of the wagering game.

60. The computer readable medium of claim 59, the gaming device being a slot machine, and the indication including a position of a reel along a payline of the slot machine.

61. The computer readable medium of claim 48, further encoded with instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

determine data indicative of a credit balance associated with play of the wagering game; and

cause a representation of the credit balance to be displayed using the display element.

62. The computer readable medium of claim 48, further encoded with instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive the data indicative of the outcome of the wagering game in real time as the outcome is determined by the gaming device.

63. The computer readable medium of claim 62, further encoded with instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to cause the representation of the outcome indicated by the received data to be displayed using the display element upon the indication being determined.

64. The computer readable medium of claim 48, further encoded with instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to store, in a memory element of the portable communication device, the data indicative of the outcome upon receiving said data.

65. The computer readable medium of claim 64, the instructions causing the representation of the outcome to be displayed at a designated point in time.

66. The computer readable medium of claim 64, the instructions causing the processor to cause the representation of the outcome to be displayed after an expiration of a period of time following a previous display of the representation of a previously determined outcome.

67. The computer readable medium of claim 64, the instructions causing the processor to cause the representation of the outcome to be displayed in response to a request from a player.

68. The computer readable medium of claim 48, the instructions causing the processor to receive the data indicative of the outcome at a designated time.

69. The computer readable medium of claim 48, the instructions causing the processor to receive the data indicative of the outcome after an expiration of a period of time following the receipt of data indicative of a previously determined outcome.

70. The computer readable medium of claim 48, the instructions causing the processor to receive the data indicative of the outcome as part of a set of data indicating a plurality of outcomes of a plurality of plays of the game of the gaming device.

71. The computer readable medium of claim 48, the instructions causing the processor to receive the data following an input by a player of a request to view the representation of the outcome indicated by the received data.

72. The computer readable medium of claim 48, further encoded with instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

receive at least one selection parameter from a player, and

cause the representation of the outcome to be displayed in accordance with the at least one selection parameter.

73. The computer readable medium of claim 72, the instructions causing the processor to receive the at least one selection parameter using a user interface of the gaming device.

74. The computer readable medium of claim 72, the instructions causing the processor to receive the at least one selection parameter using a user interface of the portable communication device.

75. The computer readable medium of claim 48, the instructions causing the processor to cause the representation of the outcome to be displayed as part of a presentation including multiple representations, each representation of the presentation representing a distinct outcome of the wagering game.

76. The computer readable medium of claim 48, further encoded with instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

receive a message other than the data indicative of the outcome of the wagering game, and

cause the message to be displayed to a player using the display element.

77. The computer readable medium of claim 76, wherein the message relates to a status of the gaming device.

78. The computer readable medium of claim 77, further encoded with instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine the status of the gaming device.

79. The computer readable medium of claim 76, wherein the message relates to a status of an automated game session.

80. The computer readable medium of claim 79, further encoded with instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine the status of the automated game session.

81. The computer readable medium of claim 76, the message including an offer to a player associated with the portable communication device, the offer defining a benefit providable in exchange for a forfeiture by the player of a payment due to the player.

82. The computer readable medium of claim 81, the benefit including a price reduction for a stay in a hotel associated with a casino in which the gaming device is located.

83. The computer readable medium of claim 81, further encoded with instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine the offer.

84. The computer readable medium of claim 48, the portable communication device being embodied as an accessory device of the gaming device, the accessory device being detachable from the gaming device to enable remote play of the gaming device, the computer readable medium further encoded with instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine that the portable communication device has been detached from the gaming device.

85. The computer readable medium of claim 84, further encoded with instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the cause the processor to enable remote play of the gaming device upon a determination that a player has provided a payment in exchange for the remote play.