Gaming machine communicating system
First Claim
1. A communications and data transfer system for gaming establishments having a plurality of gaming machines arranged in a configuration, said system comprising a hand held portable transponder adapted to transmit and receive modulated electromagnetic radiation over a limited range which is about the linear distance occupied by said gaming machines, said transponder further comprising a display device and an input mechanism, andwherein each of said gaming machines includes a communication module connected to a master gaming controller of each said gaming machine, whereby identification and control signals for one or more selected gaming machines of said plurality of gaming machines can be input to, and sent from, said transponder to the master gaming controller of the one or more selected gaming machines and in reply thereto, status data of said one or more selected gaming machines can be sent to, or overwritten by, said transponder;
- wherein said transponder is further operable to;
make a prediction regarding performance of at least one new game to replace a current game of said one or more gaming machines, and display the prediction regarding the performance of the at least one new game on said one or more gaming machines, said performance comprising a ratio of coin-in to a unit of time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A disclosed gaming system allows game configuration of gaming machines in the gaming system via wireless transmissions from a hand-held device. For instance, via the hand-held device, a user can configure a plurality of gaming machines in range of the device with different games or hardware settings. Further, via the hand-held device, a user can gather information from a number of gaming machines in range of the device.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A communications and data transfer system for gaming establishments having a plurality of gaming machines arranged in a configuration, said system comprising a hand held portable transponder adapted to transmit and receive modulated electromagnetic radiation over a limited range which is about the linear distance occupied by said gaming machines, said transponder further comprising a display device and an input mechanism, and
wherein each of said gaming machines includes a communication module connected to a master gaming controller of each said gaming machine, whereby identification and control signals for one or more selected gaming machines of said plurality of gaming machines can be input to, and sent from, said transponder to the master gaming controller of the one or more selected gaming machines and in reply thereto, status data of said one or more selected gaming machines can be sent to, or overwritten by, said transponder; wherein said transponder is further operable to;
make a prediction regarding performance of at least one new game to replace a current game of said one or more gaming machines, and display the prediction regarding the performance of the at least one new game on said one or more gaming machines, said performance comprising a ratio of coin-in to a unit of time.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of outputting or changing status data of a selected one or ones of a plurality of electronic gaming machines each having a master gaming controller with an electromagnetic communication module connected thereto, said plurality of gaming machines being arranged in proximity to each other in a gaming establishment, said method comprising the steps of:
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(i) bringing within range of said selected gaming machine a hand held portable transponder adapted to transmit and receive modulated electromagnetic radiation over a limited range which approximates to only the linear distance occupied by said gaming machines, (ii) making a prediction at said transponder regarding performance of at least one new wager-based game to replace a current wager-based game of said selected gaming machine, and displaying at said transponder the prediction regarding the performance of the at least one new wager-based game on said selected gaming machine, (iii) transmitting identification and control signals from said transponder to said selected gaming machine(s) to both select game and enable the master gaming controller thereof, and (iv) receiving from said selected gaming machine(s) at said transponder, status data of said selected gaming machine, and/or (v) transmitting from said transponder to said selected gaming machine(s) status data which is over-written into the master gaming controller of said selected gaming machine(s). - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of selecting a game for a gaming machine on a hand-held computing device, the method comprising:
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displaying a list or a graphical representation of one or more gaming machine in communication with the hand-held computing device; receiving a selection of one of the gaming machines via an input device on the hand-held computing device; displaying performance data for the selected gaming machine on a display screen of the hand-held computing device; receiving a selection of a new game for the selected gaming machine via the input device on the hand-held computing device; determining a predicted performance of the new game on the selected gaming machine, said performance relating to the financial profitability of the gaming machine; displaying the predicted performance of the new game on the selected gaming machine on the display screen of the hand-held computing device; and transmitting from the hand-held computing device to said selected gaming machine status data which is over-written into a master gaming controller of said selected gaming machine wherein the status data is for allowing the new game to be made available for play on the gaming machine. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A hand held portable transponder adapted to transmit and receive modulated electromagnetic radiation over a limited range about the linear distance occupied by a plurality of gaming machines;
- wherein each of said gaming machines includes a communication module connected to a master gaming controller of each said gaming machine whereby identification and control signals for one or more selected gaming machines of said plurality of gaming machines can be input to, and sent from, said transponder to the master gaming controller of the selected gaming machines and in reply thereto, status data of said selected gaming machines can be sent to, or overwritten by, said transponder; and
wherein said transponder is further adapted to make a prediction regarding performance of at least one new game to replace a current game of said selected gaming machines, and display the prediction regarding the performance of the at least one new game on said selected gaming machines, said performance comprising a ratio of coin-in to a unit of time.
- wherein each of said gaming machines includes a communication module connected to a master gaming controller of each said gaming machine whereby identification and control signals for one or more selected gaming machines of said plurality of gaming machines can be input to, and sent from, said transponder to the master gaming controller of the selected gaming machines and in reply thereto, status data of said selected gaming machines can be sent to, or overwritten by, said transponder; and
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31. A computer readable medium including computer program code, comprising:
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computer program code for allowing a hand held portable transponder to transmit and receive modulated electromagnetic radiation over a limited range about the linear distance occupied by a plurality of gaming machines, wherein each of said gaming machines includes a communication module connected to a master gaming controller of each of said gaming machine; computer program code for sending by said transponder identification and control signals for one or more selected gaming machines of said plurality of gaming machines; and computer program code for allowing said hand held portable transponder to make a prediction regarding performance of at least one new wager-based game to replace a current wager-based game of said selected gaming machines, and display the prediction regarding the performance of the at least one new wager-based game on said selected gaming machines.
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32. A system comprising a gaming machine and a hand held portable transponder, the gaming machine operable to receive identification and control signals from the hand held portable transponder, the hand held portable transponder adapted to transmit and receive modulated electromagnetic radiation over a limited range about the linear distance occupied by a plurality of gaming machines including said gaming machine;
- wherein each of said plurality of gaming machines includes a communication module connected to a master gaming controller of each said gaming machine whereby identification and control signals for said games can be input to, and sent from, said transponder to the master gaming controller of said gaming machine; and
wherein said transponder is further adapted to make a prediction regarding performance of at least one new game to replace a current game of said gaming machine, and display the prediction regarding the performance of the at least one new game of said gaming machine, said performance relating to the financial profitability of the gaming machine. - View Dependent Claims (33)
- wherein each of said plurality of gaming machines includes a communication module connected to a master gaming controller of each said gaming machine whereby identification and control signals for said games can be input to, and sent from, said transponder to the master gaming controller of said gaming machine; and
Specification