Gaming device methods and apparatus employing audio/video programming outcome presentation

• US 8,029,353 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2006
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Tulley, Stephen C., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Walker, Jay S., Zucker, David F.
• Primary Examiner(s): D'Agostino; Paul A.
• Application Number:
  US11/423,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20060217178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,944 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• 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 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

In a first aspect, a method (e.g., of operating a gaming device) is provided. The method includes the steps of (i) receiving audio/video content; (ii) associating a plurality of sets of outcome values with the audio/video content; (iii) determining a play session; (iv) determining which of the plurality of sets of outcome values to associate with the audio/video content for a duration of the play session, thereby determining an active set of outcome values; (v) determining a result of a game play during the session; (vi) selecting, based on the result, a value from the active set of outcome values; and (vii) outputting, as an indication of the result, the audio/video content and an indication of the selected value.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming system, the method comprising:

enabling a player to place a wager on a play of a game;

causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to cause an audio/video programming clip to be outputted in association with the wagered on play of the game, said audio/video programming clip initially produced for a purpose other than for being outputted in association with any wagered on play of any game;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine words which are outputted in association with the audio/video programming clip;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to track occurrences of at least one particular word outputted in association with the audio/video programming clip;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if a quantity of occurrences of said tracked at least one particular word outputted is at least equal to a designated quantity of occurrences of said tracked at least one particular word, said designated quantity of occurrences of said tracked at least one particular word being at least two; and

when the quantity of occurrences of said tracked at least one particular word is at least equal to the designated quantity, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause an award to be provided to the player.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining that the at least one particular word comprises at least one particular phrase.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising causing at least one display device to display the audio/video programming clip to the player.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising assigning a payout value to the audio/video programming clip.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing, in a database, a payout value in association with the audio/video programming clip.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein displaying the audio/video programming to the player comprises displaying the audio/video programming clip on a mobile terminal.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein displaying the audio/video programming to the player comprises displaying the audio/video programming clip on a community screen.

8. The method of claim 4 further comprising outputting the audio/video programming clip to a gaming device and assigning payout value prior to outputting the audio/video programming clip to the gaming device.

9. The method of claim 4 further comprising causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause the payout value assigned to the audio/video programming clip to be provided to the player when the audio/vide programming clip is outputted in association with the wagered on play of the game.

10. A system comprising:

a user interface;

a control system operatively coupled to the user interface and adapted to;

enable a player to place a wager on a play of a game;

cause an audio/video programming clip to be outputted in association with the wagered on play of the game, said audio/video programming clip initially produced for a purpose other than for being outputted in association with any wagered on play of any game;

determine words which are outputted in association with the audio/video programming clip;

track occurrences of at least one particular word outputted in association with the audio/video programming clip;

determine if a quantity of occurrences of said tracked at least one particular word outputted is at least equal to a designated quantity of occurrences of said tracked at least one particular word, said designated quantity of occurrences of said tracked at least one particular word being at least two; and

when the quantity of occurrences of said tracked at least one particular word is at least equal to the designated quantity, cause an award to be provided to the player.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the user interface is disposed within a mobile terminal.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the user interface comprises a community screen.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the mobile terminal is selected from a group consisting of:

a personal computer, a telephone, a portable handheld gaming device, and a personal digital assistant.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising software with instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

enable a player to place a wager on a play of a game;

cause an audio/video programming clip to be outputted in association with the wagered on play of the game, said audio/video programming clip initially produced for a purpose other than for being outputted in association with any wagered on play of any game;

determine words which are outputted in association with the audio/video programming clip;

track occurrences of at least one particular word outputted in association with the audio/video programming clip;

determine if a quantity of occurrences of said tracked at least one particular word outputted is at least equal to a designated quantity of occurrences of said tracked at least one particular word, said designated quantity of occurrences of said tracked at least one particular word being at least two; and

when the quantity of occurrences of said tracked at least one particular word is at least equal to the designated quantity, cause an award to be provided to the player.