System and method for controlling volume associated with gaming system

• US 7,887,417 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konami Gaming Incorporated (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Gaming Incorporated (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Dempsey, Martin, George, Jeffrey, Sepich, Edward, Tyndall, Terry
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan; James S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chan; Allen
• Application Number:
  US11/561,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20070111800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,551 Days
• Field of Search: 463/35, 463/29
• US Class Current: 463/35
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

A gaming system for playing a game and processing currency includes a plurality of player interaction terminals adaptable for determining a winning outcome of the game and receiving and processing the currency and discharging the currency in response to the winning outcome of the game. Each player interaction terminal generates various sounds as the game is played and as the winning outcome is determined. A controller operably communicates with each of the player interaction terminals. A tracking device communicates with each of the player interaction terminals and the controller and is held by a casino attendant who moves the tracking device relative each of the player interaction terminals for selectively adjusting the sounds of each of the player interaction terminals and to synch and/or mute or dial down the volume so that a general message, such as, for example an emergency message, may be broadcast.

Claims

1. A remote system for use with a gaming system having a plurality of gaming machines playable by a player, the gaming machines having at least one associated speaker, comprising:

a remote device, the remote device being embodied in a mobile computer which may be carried by a user and having a user interface for use by the user, the user interface including one or more volume buttons and a sync button; and

,

a controller operably communicating with the gaming machines and the remote device for receiving signals from the remote device over a wireless connection, the device for sending signals to the controller over the wireless connection in response to user actuation of the buttons, the controller for controlling a sound level associated with the speaker associated with one of the gaming machine machines in response to receiving signals from the remote device associated with user actuation of the volume buttons on the remote device and automatically and unilaterally synchronizing the volume of the at least one speaker of the other gaming machines with the volume of the at least one speaker associated with the one gaming machine in response to receiving signals from the remote device associated with user actuation of the sync button.

2. A remote system, as set forth in claim 1, the gaming machine having an associated player tracking device, the at least one associated speaker being associated with the player tracking device.

3. A remote system, as set forth in claim 2, the gaming machine having a game speaker, the controller for selectively controlling the sound level of the at least one associated speaker and/or the game speaker in response to commands input by the user on the remote device.

4. A remote system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plurality of gaming machines are arranged in one or more banks, the controller for selectively controlling the sound level of the at least one speaker of one or more banks of gaming machines.

5. A system for use with a gaming system having a plurality of gaming machines and having an associated player tracking device, the gaming machine having at least one associated game speaker, the associated player tracking device having an associated player tracking speaker, comprising:

a device for use by a user and/or player and having a user interface which may be used by the user and/or player, the user interface including one or more volume buttons and a sync button; and

,

a controller operably communicating with the gaming machine machines, the device for sending signals to the controller in response to user and/or player actuation of the buttons, and the controller for selectively controlling a sound level associated with the gaming speaker and/or the player tracking speaker of a selected one of the gaming machines of in response to receiving signals from the remote device associated with user or player actuation of the volume buttons and automatically and unilaterally synchronizing the volume of the gaming speaker and/or player tracking speaker of the other gaming machines with the volume of the gaming speaker and/or player tracking speaker associated with the one gaming machine in response to receiving signals from the remote device associated with user actuation of the sync button.

6. A system, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the device is a remote device which may be carried by the user.

7. A system, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the device is the player tracking device.

8. A system, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the device is a workstation networked to the gaming system.

9. A remote system, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the gaming machines are arranged in one or more banks, the controller for selectively controlling the sound level of the gaming speaker and/or player tracking speaker of one of the gaming machines and/or one or more banks of gaming machines.

19. A system, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the device is part of the player tracking device, the user interface being implemented thereon.

10. A method of controlling a sound level associated with speakers associated with a plurality of gaming machines of a gaming system, comprising:

providing a remote device embodied in a mobile computer which may be carried by a user;

providing a user interface of the remote device, the user interface having one or more volume buttons and a sync button;

sending signals from the remote device over a wireless connection to a controller in response to user actuation of the buttons;

receiving the signals at the controller;

controlling the sound level associated with the speaker associated with one of the gaming machines in response to receiving signals from the remote device associated with user actuation of the one or more volume buttons; and

,

automatically and unilaterally synchronizing the volume of the at least one speaker associated with the other gaming machines with the volume of the at least one speaker associated with the one gaming machine in response to receiving signals from the remote device associated with user actuation of the sync button.

11. A method, as set forth in claim 10, the gaming machines having an associated player tracking device, the at least one associated speaker being associated with the player tracking device.

12. A method, as set forth in claim 11, the gaming machines having a game speaker, the method including the step of selectively controlling the sound level of the at least one associated speaker and/or the game speaker in response to commands input by the user on the remote device.

13. A method, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the gaming machines arranged in one or more banks, the method including the step of selectively controlling the sound level of the at least one speaker of one of the gaming machines and/or one or more banks of gaming machines.

20. A method, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the remote device is a player tracking device associated with one of the gaming machines.

14. A method for use with a gaming system having a plurality of gaming machines and having an associated player tracking device, each gaming machine having at least one associated game speaker, the associated player tracking device having an associated player tracking speaker, comprising:

providing a device for use by a user and/or player;

providing a user interface on the device, the user interface having one or more volume buttons and a sync button;

sending signals from the device to a controller in response to user actuation of the buttons;

receiving the signals at the controller; and

,

controlling a sound level associated with the gaming speaker and/or the player tracking speaker of one of the gaming machines in response to receiving signals from the device associated with user actuation of the one or more volume buttons; and

,

automatically and unilaterally synchronizing the volume of the gaming speaker and/or the player tracking speaker of the other of the gaming machines with the volume of the gaming speaker and/or the player tracking speaker of the one of the gaming machines in response to receiving signals from the remote device associated with user actuation of the sync button.

15. A method, as set forth in claim 14, wherein the device is a remote device which may be carried by the user.

16. A method, as set forth in claim 14, wherein the device is the player tracking device.

17. A method, as set forth in claim 14, wherein the device is a workstation networked to the gaming system.

18. A method, as set forth in claim 14, wherein the plurality of gaming machines are arranged in one or more banks, the method including the step of selectively controlling the sound level of the gaming speaker and/or player tracking speaker of one of the gaming machines and/or one or more banks of gaming machines.

21. A method, as set forth in claim 14, wherein the device is implemented by one of the player tracking devices.