Method and apparatus for displaying gaming content

• US 8,435,115 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2008
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Sammon, Russell P., Tulley, Stephen, Tedesco, Daniel E., Tedesco, Robert C., Hayashida, Jeffrey Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEODHAR, OMKAR A
• Application Number:
  US12/236,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20090082095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,686 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20, 463/25, 463/30, 463/31
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/27 characterised by a large display in a public venue, e.g. in a movie theatre, stadium or game arena
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A method comprises receiving an indication of a triggering event at a gaming device, determining a gaming content associated with the gaming device, identifying a public display on which is displayed non-gaming media content, and outputting the gaming content on the public display wherein the gaming content supersedes at least a portion of the non-gaming media content.

Claims

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

causing a gaming device to generate gaming content including at least one outcome associated with at least one play of at least one game;

enabling a player at the gaming device to select a public display device from a plurality of different public display devices, each of the public display devices being separate from any display device of said gaming device;

receiving a request from the player to output the gaming device generated gaming content on the selected public display device; and

determining whether to cause the selected public display device to output the gaming device generated gaming content.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving an indication that the player has met at least one eligibility criteria.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising determining whether to cause the selected public display device to output the gaming device generated gaming content based upon the at least one eligibility criteria.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising determining, based on the received at least one eligibility criteria, a percentage of the selected public display device to be occupied by the gaming device generated gaming content.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising determining, based on the received at least one eligibility criteria, an amount of time the gaming device generated gaming content is outputted to the selected public display device.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the at least one eligibility criteria comprises a player tracking status.

7. The method of claim 1 which comprises determining to output the gaming device generated gaming content on the selected public display device to supersede a non-gaming media content.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining whether to cause the selected public display device to output the gaming device generated gaming content based upon the request.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining, based on the received request, a percentage of the selected public display device to be occupied by the gaming device generated gaming content.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining, based on the received request, an amount of time the gaming device generated gaming content is outputted to the selected public display device.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining whether to cause the selected public display device to output the gaming device generated gaming content based upon a trigger event.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising determining, based on the trigger event, a percentage of the selected public display device to be occupied by the gaming device generated gaming content.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising determining, based on the trigger event, an amount of time the gaming device generated gaming content is outputted to the selected public display device.

14. The method of claim 1 which comprises determining whether to cause the selected public display device to output the gaming device generated gaming content in exchange for consideration.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising:

a plurality of stored instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to;

cause a gaming device to generate gaming content including at least one outcome associated with at least one play of at least one game;

enable a player at the gaming device to select a public display device from a plurality of different public display devices, each of the public display devices being separate from any display device of said gaming device;

receive a request from the player to output the gaming device generated gaming content on the selected public display device; and

determine whether to cause the selected public display device to output the gaming device generated gaming content.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a computer readable medium in communication with the processor and storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

cause a gaming device to generate gaming content including at least one outcome associated with at least one play of at least one game;

enable a player at the gaming device to select a public display device from a plurality of different public display devices, each of the public display devices being separate from any display device of said gaming device;

receive a request from the player to output the gaming device generated gaming content on the selected public display device; and

determine whether to cause the selected public display device to output the gaming device generated gaming content.

17. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

enabling at least one player at a gaming device to select a public display device from a plurality of different public display devices, each of the public display devices being separate from any display device of said gaming device;

determining whether to cause the gaming device of the at least one player to control the selected public display device; and

if the determination is to cause the gaming device of the at least one player to control the selected public display device, displaying on the public display device a first video output associated with the selected public display device and a second video output associated with an output of gaming content generated by the gaming device, said gaming content including at least one outcome associated with at least one play of at least one game.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the at least one player selects the public display device via at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant, a cashless gaming receipt reader, and a personal computer.

19. The method of claim 17 which comprises providing assistance to the at least one player to select the public display device.

20. The method of claim 17 which comprises determining whether to cause the gaming device of the at least one player to control the selected public display device based upon a comp level status of the at least one player.

21. The method of claim 17 which comprises determining whether to cause the gaming device of the at least one player to control the selected public display device based upon a comp point total of the at least one player.

22. The method of claim 17 which comprises determining whether to cause the gaming device of the at least one player to control the selected public display device based upon a wager amount of the at least one player.

23. The method of claim 17 which comprises determining whether to cause the gaming device of the at least one player to control the selected public display device based upon a factor relating to at least one gaming outcome of the at least one player.

24. The method of claim 17 which comprises determining whether to cause the gaming device of the at least one player to control the selected public display device based upon a number of players of a group players including the at least one player.

25. The method of claim 17 which comprises determining whether to cause the gaming device of the at least one player to control the selected public display device based upon a content of the first video output.

26. The method of claim 17 which comprises determining whether to cause the gaming device of the at least one player to control the selected public display device based upon activity within viewing distance of the selected public display device.

27. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising:

a plurality of stored instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to;

enable at least one player at a gaming device to select a public display device from a plurality of different public display devices, each of the public display devices being separate from any display device of said gaming device;

determine whether to cause the gaming device of the at least one player to control the selected public display device; and

if the determination is to cause the gaming device of the at least one player to control the selected public display device, display on the selected public display device a first video output associated with the selected public display device and a second video output associated with an output of gaming content generated by the gaming device, said gaming content including at least one outcome associated with at least one play of at least one game.

28. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a computer readable medium in communication with the processor and storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

enable at least one player at a gaming device to select a public display device from a plurality of different public display devices, each of the public display devices being separate from any display device of said gaming device;

determine whether to cause the gaming device of the at least one player to control the selected public display device; and

if the determination is to cause the gaming device of the at least one player to control the selected public display device, displaying on the selected public display device a first video output associated with the selected public display device and a second video output associated with an output of gaming content generated by the gaming device, said gaming content including at least one outcome associated with at least one play of at least one game.