Wagering game with auto-triggered player device

• US 8,182,333 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2007
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Pacey, Larry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PERT, EVAN T
• Application Number:
  US12/377,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20100197388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: 345/169, 345/172, 345/173, 345/179, 463/16, 463/29, 463/42, 463 17- 21
• US Class Current: 463/21
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen

Abstract

A gaming system including an input device for receiving a wager to play a wagering game. The gaming system also includes a display for displaying a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game and a touch-screen input device in association with the display. In response to a predetermined criterion, a pop-up window is displayed on the display that allows the player to enter data into a field on the display. The pop-up window preferably includes keys to enter the data, such as an image of a standard keyboard for entering alpha-numeric data.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

an input device for receiving a wager to play a wagering game;

a display for displaying a first randomly selected outcome in the wagering game; and

a touch-screen input device in association with the display;

wherein, in response to the first randomly selected outcome being a triggering outcome, a pop-up window is displayed on the display and partially overlaying the wagering game to allow a player to enter alpha-numeric data into a field on the display; and

in response to alpha-numeric data being entered by the player, displaying the entered alpha-numeric data in a field on the display device; and

modifying a displayed second randomly selected outcome in the wagering game by the received alpha-numeric data.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined criterion is the receipt of the wager.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined criterion is one of the randomly selected outcomes of the wagering game.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the field has a corresponding button, and the predetermined criterion is activation of the corresponding button.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the pop-up window includes at least one of an alpha-numeric keyboard, a numeric keypad, a mouse, a track wheel, and a slider.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the pop-up window is displayed over video elements associated with the wagering game.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the field relates to information concerning the player.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the field relates to information that dictates the randomly selected outcome.

9. A method of conducting a wagering game, comprising:

conducting, by one or more processors, the wagering game;

displaying, on a video display device, a first randomly selected outcome in the wagering game;

in response to the first randomly selected outcome being a triggering outcome, displaying, on the video display device, a pop-up window at least partially overlaying the wagering game;

receiving inputs of alpha-numeric data from a player via the displayed pop-up window;

in response to the alpha-numeric data being received, displaying the received alpha-numeric data in a field on the video display device; and

determining a second randomly selected outcome in the wagering game, the second randomly selected outcome being modified by the received alpha-numeric data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined criterion is a receipt of a wager.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined criterion is a player activating a button on a gaming machine conducting the wagering game.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the pop-up window includes a touch-screen device.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the field is for providing personal information related to the player.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising displaying personalized information related to the player in response to receiving the personal information.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the data for the field is wagering information.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the receiving includes displaying a standard keyboard having keys corresponding to alpha-numeric data.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined criteria is a wagering game outcome being achieved.

18. A gaming system comprising:

an input device for receiving a wager to play a wagering game;

a display device for displaying a first randomly selected outcome of the wagering game; and

a controller coupled to the input device and the display device, the controller operative (i) to cause the display device to display a pop-up window in response to the first randomly selected outcome being a triggering outcome, the pop-up window partially overlaying the wagering game for receiving alpha-numeric data from a player in response to a predetermined criterion (ii) receive inputs of alpha-numeric data from a player via the displayed pop-up window;

iii) to cause the display to display information corresponding to the received alpha-numeric data in a field; and

determine a second randomly selected outcome in the wagering game, the second randomly selected outcome being modified by the received alpha-numeric data.

19. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein the controller is external to the gaming machine.

20. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the pop-up window includes a video image of an alpha-numeric keypad.