Personalized gaming apparatus and gaming method

• US 8,187,073 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2006
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Beaulieu, Nicole, Schlottman, Greg, Nelson, Dwayne R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Assistant Examiner(s): TORIMIRO, ADETOKUNBO OLUSEGUN
• Application Number:
  US11/639,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20070087841A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,992 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/40, 463/42, 463/27
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions

Abstract

A system, apparatus, and method of operating a gaming apparatus may include identifying a player, accessing stored player data relating to the player, and performing a personalized gaming operation based on the stored player data. The personalized gaming operation may include one of the following personalized gaming operations: generating a video image of a game piece, the game piece having one or more characteristics selected according to the stored player data, generating a personalized video image based on the stored player data, or generating a game environment, the game environment including video images other than a video image of a game piece, music and sound effects and one or more of the video images other than a video image of a game piece, music and sound effects selected according to the stored player data.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming apparatus, said method comprising:

receiving at least one preference from a player regarding at least one of a game piece and a game environment including a background;

identifying the player;

accessing stored player data including the at least one preference;

performing a personalized gaming operation based on the stored player data including the at least one preference, the personalized gaming operation comprising at least one of the following personalized gaming operations;

generating a video image of the game piece, the game piece having one or more characteristics selected according to the stored player data including the at least one preference;

or

generating the game environment, the game environment including video images other than the video image of the game piece, music and sound effects and one or more of the video images other than the video image of the game piece, music and sound effects selected according to the stored player data including the at least one preference.

2. The method of operating a gaming apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

causing a first video image representing one of video poker and video blackjack to be generated, the first video image comprising an image of a first playing card; and

causing a second video image representing one of video poker and video blackjack to be generated, the second video image comprising an image of a second playing card differing from the first playing card as to at least one of card dimensions, face card appearance and card back appearance based on the stored player data.

3. The method of operating a gaming apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

causing a first video image representing a video slots game to be generated, the first video image comprising an image of a first slot machine reel having slot machine symbols; and

causing a second video image representing a video slots game to be generated, the second video image comprising an image of a second slot machine reel differing from the first slot machine reel as to at least one of reel dimensions, symbol appearance and symbol color based on the stored player data.

4. The method of operating a gaming apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

causing a first video image representing a video keno game to be generated, the first video image comprising an image of a first keno card; and

causing a second video image representing a video keno game to be generated, the second video image comprising an image of a second keno card differing from the first keno card as to at least one of card dimensions, card color and card background based on the stored player data.

5. The method of operating a gaming apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

causing a first video image representing a video bingo game to be generated, the first video image comprising an image of a first bingo card if said game comprises video bingo; and

causing a second video image representing a video bingo game to be generated, the second video image comprising an image of a second bingo card differing from the corresponding first bingo card as to at least one of card dimensions, card color and card background based on the stored player data.

6. The method of operating a gaming apparatus according to claim 1, the stored player data comprising a player name and the method comprising:

causing a video image including a personalized message comprising the player name to be generated.

7. The method of operating a gaming apparatus according to claim 6, comprising:

causing a video image including a personalized greeting comprising the player name to be generated.

8. The method of operating a gaming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the background includes a first background, said method comprising:

causing a first video image other than a video image of a game piece to be generated, said first video image comprising the first background; and

causing a second video image other than a video image of a game piece to be generated, said second video image comprising a second background, the second video image differing from the first video image as to background color based on the stored player data.

9. The method of operating a gaming apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

causing a first plurality of musical notes to be generated; and

causing a second plurality of musical notes to be generated, said second plurality of musical notes differing from the first plurality of musical notes based on the stored player data.

10. The method of operating a gaming apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

causing a first sound effect to be generated; and

causing a second sound effect to be generated, said second sound effect differing from the first sound effect based on the stored player data.

11. A method of operating a gaming apparatus, said method comprising:

identifying a player;

accessing stored player data relating to the player;

causing a first video image representing a game to be generated, said first video image comprising an image of a first game piece, said first video image comprising an image of a first playing card if said game comprises one of video poker and video blackjack, said first video image comprising an image of a first slot machine reel if said game comprises video slots, said first video image comprising an image of a first keno card if said game comprises video keno, said first video image comprising an image of a first bingo card if said game comprises video bingo, said first game piece including said first playing card, said first slot machine reel, said first keno card, or said first bingo card;

causing a second video image representing said game to be generated, said second video image being based on the stored player data, said second video image comprising an image of a second game piece, said second video image comprising an image of a second playing card differing from the first playing card as to at least one of card dimensions, face card appearance and card back appearance if said game represented by said second video image comprises one of video poker and video blackjack, said second video image comprising an image of a second slot machine reel differing from the first slot machine reel as to at least one of reel dimensions, reel symbol appearance and reel symbol color if said game represented by said second video image comprises video slots, said second video image comprising an image of a second keno card differing from the first keno card as to at least one of card dimensions, card color and card background if said game represented by said second video image comprises video keno, said second video image comprising an image of a second bingo card differing from the corresponding first bingo card as to at least one of card dimensions, card color and card background if said game represented by said second video image comprises video bingo, said second game piece including said second playing card, said second slot machine reel, said second keno card, or said second bingo card, said first video image having an image of a different first game environment including a background than an image of a second game environment of said second video image, said image of said first game environment is other than said image of said first game piece, and said image of said second game environment is other than said image of said second game piece.

12. A gaming system comprising:

a gaming apparatus comprising a video display unit, an identification device, and a payout device;

a computer operatively coupled to said gaming apparatus, said computer comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor, said computer being programmed to receive at least one preference from a player regarding at least one of a game piece and a game environment including a background;

said computer being programmed to identify the player;

said computer being programmed to access stored player data including the at least one preference; and

said computer being programmed to perform a personalized gaming operation based on the stored player data including the at least one preference, the personalized gaming operation comprising at least one of the following personalized gaming operations;

generating a video image of the game piece, the game piece having one or more characteristics selected according to the stored player data including the at least one preference;

or

generating the game environment, the game environment including video images other than the video image of the game piece, music and sound effects and one or more of the video images other than the video image of the game piece, music and sound effects selected according to the stored player data including the at least one preference.

13. The gaming system according to claim 12, said computer being programmed to cause a first video image representing a game to be generated on the video display unit, said first video image representing one of video poker and video blackjack and comprising an image of a first playing card;

and said computer being programmed to cause a second video image representing a game to be generated on the video display unit, said second video image representing one of video poker and video blackjack and comprising an image of a second playing card differing from the first playing card as to at least one of card dimensions, face card appearance and card back appearance based on the stored player data.

14. The gaming system according to claim 12, said computer being programmed to cause a first video image representing a video slots game to be generated on the video display unit, the first video image comprising an image of a first slot machine reel having slot machine symbols;

and said computer being programmed to cause a second video image representing a video slots game to be generated on the video display unit, the second video image comprising an image of a second slot machine reel differing from the first slot machine reel as to at least one of reel dimensions, symbol appearance and symbol color based on the stored player data.

15. The gaming system according to claim 12, said computer being programmed to cause a first video image representing a video keno game to be generated on the video display unit, the first video image comprising an image of a first keno card;

and said computer being programmed to cause a second video image representing a video keno game to be generated on the video display unit, the second video image comprising an image of a second keno card differing from the first keno card as to at least one of card dimensions, card color and card background based on the stored player data.

16. The gaming system according to claim 12, said computer being programmed to cause a first video image representing a video bingo game to be generated on the video display unit, the first video image comprising an image of a first bingo card if said game comprises video bingo;

and said computer being programmed to cause a second video image representing a video bingo game to be generated on the video display unit, the second video image comprising an image of a second bingo card differing from the corresponding first bingo card as to at least one of card dimensions, card color and card background based on the stored player data.

17. The gaming system according to claim 12, the stored player data comprising a player name:

said computer being programmed to cause a video image to be generated on the video display unit, the video image including a personalized message comprising the player name.

18. The gaming system according to claim 17, said computer being programmed to cause a video image including a personalized greeting comprising the player name to be generated.

19. The gaming system according to claim 12, wherein the background includes a first background and the video image includes a first video image, said computer being programmed to cause the first video image other than a video image of a game piece to be generated on the video display unit, said first video image comprising the first background;

and said computer being programmed to cause a second video image other than a video image of a game piece to be generated on the video display unit, said second video image comprising a second background, the second background differing from the first background as to background color based on the stored player data.

20. The gaming system according to claim 12, said computer being programmed to cause a first plurality of musical notes to be generated;

and said computer being programmed to cause a second plurality of musical notes to be generated, said second plurality of musical notes differing from the first plurality of musical notes based on the stored player data.

21. The gaming system according to claim 12, said computer being programmed to cause a first sound effect to be generated;

and said computer being programmed to cause a second sound effect to be generated, said second sound effect differing from the first sound effect based on the stored player data.

22. A gaming system comprising:

a gaming apparatus comprising a video display unit, an identification device, and a payout device;

a computer operatively coupled to said gaming apparatus, said computer comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor, said computer being programmed to identify a player;

said computer being programmed to access stored player data relating to the player;

said computer being programmed to cause a first video image representing a game to be generated, said first video image comprising an image of a first game piece, said first video image comprising an image of a first playing card if said game comprises one of video poker and video blackjack, said first video image comprising an image of a first slot machine reel if said game comprises video slots, said first video image comprising an image of a first keno card if said game comprises video keno, said first video image comprising an image of a first bingo card if said game comprises video bingo;

said first game piece including said first playing card, said first slot machine reel, said first keno card, or said first bingo card, and said computer being programmed to cause a second video image representing said game to be generated, said second video image being based on the stored player data, said second video image comprising an image of a second game piece, said second video image comprising an image of a second playing card differing from the first playing card as to at least one of card dimensions, face card appearance and card back appearance if said game represented by said second video image comprises one of video poker and video blackjack, said second video image comprising an image of a second slot machine reel differing from the first slot machine reel as to at least one of reel dimensions, reel symbol appearance and reel symbol color if said game represented by said second video image comprises video slots, said second video image comprising an image of a second keno card differing from the first keno card as to at least one of card dimensions, card color and card background if said game represented by said second video image comprises video keno, said second video image comprising an image of a second bingo card differing from the corresponding first bingo card as to at least one of card dimensions, card color and card background if said game represented by said second video image comprises video bingo, said second game piece including said second playing card, said second slot machine reel, said second keno card, or said second bingo card, said first video image having an image of a different first game environment including a background than an image of a second game environment of said second video image, said image of said first game environment is other than said image of said first game piece, and said image of said second game environment is other than said image of said second game piece.

23. A method of operating a gaming apparatus, said method comprising:

receiving at least one of;

a set including at least one of dimensions, color, and contrast of a video image of a game piece; and

a set including at least one of color and contrast of a background video image;

identifying the player;

accessing stored player data including the at least one of;

the set of at least one of dimensions, color, and contrast of the video image of the game piece, and

the set of at least one of color and contrast of the background video image;

performing a personalized gaming operation based on the stored player data, the personalized gaming operation comprising at least one of the following operations;

generating the video image of a game piece, the game piece having the at least one of dimensions, color and contrast selected according to the stored player data; and

generating the background video image, the background video image having the at least one of color and contrast selected according to the stored player data.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the game piece image comprises at least one of the following:

a player card, a slot reel, a keno card, and a bingo card.

25. The method according to claim 23, comprising wherein said generating the video image of the game piece comprises generating a video image of the game piece having colors and contrast selected to improve the visibility of the game piece image to visually-impaired players.

26. A gaming system comprising:

a gaming apparatus comprising a video display unit, an identification device, and a payout device;

a computer operatively coupled to said gaming apparatus, said computer comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor, said computer being programmed to receive at least one preference from a player regarding at least one of a game piece and a background video image;

said computer being programmed to identify the player;

said computer being programmed to access stored player data including the at least one preference; and

said computer being programmed to perform a personalized gaming operation based on the stored player data, the personalized gaming operation comprising at least one of the following operations;

generating a video image of the game piece, the game piece having at least one of dimensions, color and contrast selected according to the stored player data; and

generating the background video image, the background video image having at least one of color and contrast selected according to the stored player data.

27. The gaming system according to claim 26, wherein the game piece comprises at least one of the following:

a player card, a slot reel, a keno card, and a bingo card.

28. The gaming system according to claim 26, wherein the video image having of the game piece has colors and contrast selected to improve the visibility of the game piece to visually-impaired players.

29. A method of operating a gaming apparatus, said method comprising:

identifying a player;

accessing stored player data relating to the player;

performing a personalized gaming operation based on the stored player data, the personalized gaming operation comprising generating a video image including textual captions corresponding to at least one aural element according to the stored player data, wherein the textual captions are used to communicate the at least one aural element.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the at least one aural element comprises at least one of the following aural elements:

speech, sound effects, and music.

31. A gaming system comprising:

a gaming apparatus comprising a video display unit, an identification device, and a payout device;

a computer operatively coupled to said gaming apparatus, said computer comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor, said computer being programmed to identify a player;

said computer being programmed to access stored player data relating to the player; and

said computer being programmed to perform a personalized gaming operation based on the stored player data, the personalized gaming operation comprising;

generating a video image including textual captions corresponding to at least one aural element according to the stored player data, wherein the textual captions are used to communicate the at least one aural element.

32. The gaming system according to claim 31, wherein the at least one aural element comprises at least one of the following aural elements:

speech, sound effects, and music.