Wagering game machine with wireless peripherals

• US 8,414,373 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2007
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Bone, Robert, Brewer, Christopher, Gagner, Mark B., Pryzby, Eric M., Schwartz, Richard T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Toledo, Fernando L
• Assistant Examiner(s): KUSUMAKAR, KAREN M
• Application Number:
  US12/301,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20090197673A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,153 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication

Abstract

A wireless computerized wagering game system comprises a gaming module operable to present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and a wireless communications module operable to connect the wireless wagering game system to at least one wireless peripheral device. The wireless computerized wagering game is portable, is operable to couple to fixed and portable peripheral devices, and is operable to couple to user-provided and gaming establishment-provided peripherals in various embodiments.

Claims

1. A computerized handheld wagering game device configured to connect to an audio chair on which a player holding the handheld game device sits, the audio chair including one or more audio speakers and a wireless controller configured to wirelessly receive game sounds for playback via the one or more audio speakers, the handheld game device comprising:

a wireless communication interface;

at least one input device;

at least one display device;

one or more processors; and

at least one memory device storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the handheld game device to;

wirelessly connect to the audio chair via the wireless communication interface;

receive, in response to an input via the input device, a wager to initiate a wagering game;

display, on the display device, the wagering game; and

while displaying the wagering game on the display device, wirelessly convey one or more game sounds to the wireless controller of the audio chair for playback via the one or more speakers to the player.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the handheld device to recognize the audio chair in close proximity to the handheld device and automatically display a connection screen offering the player an option to connect to the audio chair.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the instructions further cause the handheld device to recognize at least another detached wireless peripheral device available for connection to the handheld device and automatically display the connection screen including offering the player an option to connect to the another wireless peripheral device.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein wirelessly connecting to the audio chair comprises recognizing the audio chair in close proximity to the handheld device and automatically connecting to the audio chair.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the handheld device to receive game results for the wagering game from a remote game server.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the another wireless peripheral device comprises a display device.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the game sounds include low frequency game sounds enhanced by a bass shaker in the audio chair.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the handheld device to wirelessly convey non-game sounds to the wireless controller of the audio chair for playback via the one or more speakers to the player, the non-game sounds including one or more of music, game instructions, and attendant communications.

9. A computer-implemented method of connecting a handheld wagering game device to an audio chair on which a player holding the handheld game device sits, the handheld game device including a wireless communication interface, an input device, and a display device, the audio chair including one or more audio speakers and a wireless controller configured to wirelessly receive game sounds for playback via the one or more audio speakers, the method comprising:

wirelessly connecting the handheld game device to the audio chair via the wireless communication interface;

receiving, in response to an input via the input device, a wager to initiate a wagering game;

displaying, on the display device, the wagering game; and

while displaying the wagering game on the display device, wirelessly conveying one or more game sounds to the wireless controller of the audio chair for playback via the one or more speakers to the player.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising recognizing, via the wireless communication interface, the audio chair in close proximity to the handheld device and automatically displaying a connection screen on the handheld device offering the player an option to connect to the audio chair.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising recognizing, via the wireless communication interface, at least another detached wireless peripheral device available for connection to the handheld device and automatically displaying the connection screen on the handheld device offering the player an option to connect to the another wireless peripheral device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein wirelessly connecting comprises recognizing the audio chair in close proximity to the handheld device and automatically connecting to the audio chair.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving, by the handheld device, game results for the wagering game from a remote game server.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the another wireless peripheral device comprises a display device.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the audio chair includes a bass shaker that enhances low frequency sounds of the game sounds.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising wirelessly conveying nongame sounds to the wireless controller of the audio chair for playback via the one or more speakers to the player, the non-game sounds including one or more of music, game instructions, and attendant communications.

17. A machine-readable, non-transitory medium with instructions stored thereon, the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a handheld wagering game device to perform operations comprising:

wirelessly connecting the handheld game device to an audio chair via a wireless communication interface of the handheld game device;

receiving, in response to an input via an input device of the handheld game device, a wager to initiate a wagering game;

displaying, on a display device of the handheld game device, the wagering game; and

while displaying the wagering game on the display device, wirelessly conveying one or more game sounds to a wireless controller of the audio chair for playback to the player via one or more speakers in the audio chair.

18. The medium of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise recognizing the audio chair in close proximity to the handheld device and automatically displaying a connection screen on the handheld device offering the player an option to connect to the audio chair.

19. The medium of claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise recognizing at least another detached wireless peripheral device available for connection to the handheld device and automatically displaying the connection screen on the handheld device offering the player an option to connect to the another wireless peripheral device.

20. The medium of claim 17, wherein wirelessly connecting comprises recognizing the audio chair in close proximity to the handheld device and automatically connecting to the audio chair.

21. The medium of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise receiving, by the handheld device, game results for the wagering game from a remote game server.

22. The medium of claim 19, wherein the another wireless peripheral device comprises a display device.

23. The medium of claim 17, wherein the audio chair includes a bass shaker that enhances low frequency sounds of the game sounds.

24. The medium of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise wirelessly conveying non-game sounds to the wireless controller of the audio chair for playback via the one or more speakers to the player, the non-game sounds including one or more of music, game instructions, and attendant communications.

25. A gaming system, comprising:

an audio chair including one or more audio speakers and a wireless controller configured to wirelessly receive game sounds for playback via the one or more audio speakers; and

a computerized handheld wagering game device configured to connect to the audio chair on which a player holding the handheld game device sits, the handheld game device comprising;

a wireless communication interface;

at least one input device;

at least one display device;

one or more processors; and

at least one memory device storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the handheld game device to;

wirelessly connect to the audio chair via the wireless communication interface;

receive, in response to an input via the input device, a wager to initiate a wagering game;

display, on the display device, the wagering game; and

while displaying the wagering game on the display device, wirelessly convey one or more game sounds to the wireless controller of the audio chair for playback via the one or more speakers to the player.