Differentiated audio
First Claim
1. A gaming machine, comprising:
- differentiating apparatus for differentiating first sounds intended for a first purpose for a first person currently using a gaming machine from second sounds intended for a second purpose for second persons who are not currently using the gaming machine wherein the first sounds and second sounds are provided according to the different purposes at substantially the same time;
reproducing apparatus for reproducing the first sounds and the second sounds; and
directional apparatus for directing the first sounds to a first area near one or more user interfaces of the gaming machine for the first purpose and for directing the second sounds to a second area different from the first area for the second purpose which is different from the first purpose wherein the first sounds are intended primarily for use by the first person currently using the gaming machine while the second sounds are intended primarily for the second persons not currently using the gaming machine.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides novel methods and devices for providing audio to players of a gaming machine and to nearby players. According to preferred implementations, sounds intended for a person currently using a gaming machine are distinguished from second sounds intended for persons who are not currently using the gaming machine. The former sounds are directed to the player of the gaming machine by one or more methods and/or devices. For example, the gaming machine may include a device for producing ultrasonic waves (e.g., in a beam) that produce the first sounds via interaction with a medium, a sound dome, a speaker array, or other devices for producing directional sound. The sound may be directed to a predetermined area near the gaming machine. Alternatively, the sound may be directed to an area at or near where the player is detected to be, where the player'"'"'s player tracking card is detected to be, etc.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A gaming machine, comprising:
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differentiating apparatus for differentiating first sounds intended for a first purpose for a first person currently using a gaming machine from second sounds intended for a second purpose for second persons who are not currently using the gaming machine wherein the first sounds and second sounds are provided according to the different purposes at substantially the same time; reproducing apparatus for reproducing the first sounds and the second sounds; and directional apparatus for directing the first sounds to a first area near one or more user interfaces of the gaming machine for the first purpose and for directing the second sounds to a second area different from the first area for the second purpose which is different from the first purpose wherein the first sounds are intended primarily for use by the first person currently using the gaming machine while the second sounds are intended primarily for the second persons not currently using the gaming machine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A gaming machine, comprising:
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differentiating apparatus for differentiating and producing first sounds and second sounds wherein the first sounds are intended for a first purpose for a first person currently using a gaming machine while the second sounds are intended for a second purpose for a second person not currently using the gaming machine, and wherein the first sounds and second sounds are produced according to the different purposes at substantially the same time; a directional audio device; location-detecting apparatus for detecting a location of the first person or the second person; controlling apparatus for controlling the directional audio device to direct sounds to the location of the first person or the second person, wherein the controlling comprises controlling a motor to change a direction towards which the sounds are directed according to the location detected by the location-detecting apparatus such that the first sounds are directed to a first location of the first person near one or more user interfaces of the gaming machine for the first purpose while the second sounds are directed to a second location of the second person different from the first location for the second purpose which is different from the first purpose and wherein the first sounds are intended primarily for use by the first person currently using the gaming machine while the second sounds are intended primarily by the second person not currently using the gaming machine; and providing apparatus for providing a wagering game at the gaming machine. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A gaming method, comprising:
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differentiating, by a gaming machine, first sounds intended for a first purpose for a first person currently using the gaming machine from second sounds intended for a second purpose for second persons who are not currently using the gaming machine; reproducing, by the gaming machine, the first sounds and the second sounds according to the different purposes at substantially the same time; directing, by the gaming machine, the first sounds to a first area near one or more input devices of the gaming machine for the first purpose; and directing, by the gaming machine, the second sounds to a second area different from the first area for the second purpose which is different from the first purpose wherein the first sounds are intended for use by the first person currently using the gaming machine while the second sounds are intended for the second persons not currently using the gaming machine. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification