Player tracking communication mechanisms in a gaming machine

• US 8,632,406 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2007
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Hedrick, Joseph R., Nguyen, Binh T., Kinsley, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall, Arthur O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, JEFFREY KEITH
• Application Number:
  US11/829,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20080051195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,370 Days
• Field of Search: 469/29, 463/42, 463/29
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/405 being a wireless ad hoc network, e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Pico net
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

A disclosed a player tracking unit provides a multimedia interface with a display and an interface to one or more sound projection devices and a multimedia board for processing digitally formatted program files for output on the multimedia interface. The player tracking unit may provide menus of audio and video programs, such as a menu for a musical jukebox or a menu for a video-on-demand service. Using a “TV-like” interface, a user may be able to select a program to output on the multimedia interface and control playback features of the program.

Claims

1. A player tracking system comprising:

1) one or more remote servers,

     2) a plurality of gaming machines, each said gaming machine containing a player tracking unit mounted on each said gaming machine, and

     3) a network designed or configured to allow communications between the plurality of gaming machines, the player tracking units and the one or more remote servers, wherein each of said player tracking units comprises;

a multimedia interface comprising;

a video display operable to display video content including still video images;

one or more of the following player tracking interface devices;

a card reader, a key pad, a bonus button, a function button, a microphone, sound projection devices, a camera, a wireless interface device, a proximity sensor, selection buttons, an enter button, a bar-code reader, an RFID reader and a finger print reader;

a player tracking controller designed or configured to;

     1) communicate with the multimedia interface, the one or more player tracking interface devices, a master gaming controller that controls a game played on the gaming machine to which said player tracking unit is mounted and the one or more remote servers;

     2) output a program comprising video content to the multimedia interface;

     3) in response to a request initiated at the player tracking unit to the one or more remote servers, the gaming machine to which said player tracking unit is mounted, or the player tracking unit, receive a download of digitally formatted video content;

     4) determine whether one or more conditions for when to display the digitally formatted video content is met;

     5) in response to at least a first condition of the one or more conditions being met, display the digitally formatted video content;

     6) collect gaming data from the gaming machine and

     7) send the gaming data to one of the one or more remote servers;

a multimedia board for processing digitally formatted program files including the digitally formatted video content for output on the multimedia interface; and

a memory device for storing the downloaded digitally formatted video content coupled to the multimedia board.

2. A player tracking system comprising:

1) one or more remote servers,

     2) a plurality of gaming machines, each said gaming machine containing a player tracking unit mounted on said gaming machine, and

     3) a network designed or configured to allow communications between the plurality of gaming machines, the player tracking units and the one or more remote servers, wherein each of said player tracking units comprises;

a multimedia interface comprising;

a video display operable to display video content including still video images;

one or more of the following player tracking interface devices;

a card reader, a key pad, a bonus button, a function button, a microphone, sound projection devices, a camera, a wireless interface device, a proximity sensor, selection buttons, an enter button, a bar-code reader, an RFID reader and a finger print reader;

a player tracking controller designed or configured to;

     1) communicate with the multimedia interface, the one or more player tracking interface devices, a master gaming controller that controls a game played on the gaming machine to which said player tracking unit is mounted and one or more remote servers;

     2) output a program comprising video content to the multimedia interface;

     3) in response to a request initiated at a first remote server to the player tracking unit, receive a download of digitally formatted video content;

     4) in response to the request initiated at the first remote server, receive one or more conditions for when to display the digitally formatted video content;

     5) in response to a first condition of the one or more conditions being met, display the digitally formatted video content;

     6) collect gaming data from the gaming machine to which said player tracking unit is mounted; and

     7) send the gaming data to one of the one or more remote servers;

a multimedia board for processing digitally formatted program files including the digitally formatted video content for output on the multimedia interface; and

a memory for storing the downloaded digitally formatted video content coupled to the multimedia board.

3. A gaming machine comprising:

a master gaming controller designed or configured to control one or more games of chance played on the gaming machine; and

a player tracking unit mounted on said gaming machine comprising;

a multimedia interface comprising;

a video display operable to display video content including still video images;

one or more of the following player tracking interface devices;

a card reader, a key pad, a bonus button, a function button, a microphone, sound projection devices, a camera, a wireless interface device, a proximity sensor, selection buttons, an enter button, a bar-code reader, an RFID reader and a finger print reader;

a player tracking controller designed or configured to;

     1) communicate with the multimedia interface, the one or more player tracking interface devices, the master gaming controller and one or more remote servers;

     2) output a program comprising video content and combinations thereof, to the multimedia interface;

     3) in response to a request initiated at a first remote server to the player tracking unit, receive a download of digitally formatted video content;

     4) in response to the request initiated at the first remote server, receive one or more conditions for when to display the digitally formatted video content;

     5) in response to a first condition of the one or more conditions being met, display the digitally formatted video content;

     6) collect gaming data from the gaming machine; and

     7) send the gaming data to one of the remote servers;

a multimedia board for processing digitally formatted program files including the digitally formatted video content for output on the multimedia interface; and

a memory for storing the downloaded digitally formatted video content coupled to the multimedia board.

4. A gaming machine comprising:

a master gaming controller designed or configured to control one or more games of chance played on the gaming machine; and

a player tracking unit mounted on said gaming machine comprising;

a multimedia interface comprising;

a video display;

one or more of the following player tracking interface devices;

a card reader, a key pad, a bonus button, a function button, a microphone, sound projection devices, a camera, a wireless interface device, a proximity sensor, selection buttons, an enter button, a bar-code reader, an RFID reader and a finger print reader;

a player tracking controller designed or configured to;

1) communicate with the multimedia interface, the one or more player tracking interface devices, the master gaming controller and one or more remote servers;

     2) output a program comprising video content to the multimedia interface;

     3) in response to a request initiated at the player tracking unit to one or more of the one or more remote servers, receive a download of digitally formatted video content;

     4) determine whether one or more conditions for when to display the digitally formatted video content is met;

     5) in response to at least a first condition of the one or more conditions being met, display the digitally formatted video content;

     6) collect gaming data from the gaming machine; and

7) send the gaming data to one of the one or more remote servers;

a multimedia board for processing digitally formatted program files including the digitally formatted video content for output on the multimedia interface; and

a memory device for storing the downloaded digitally formatted video content coupled to the multimedia board.

5. A gaming machine comprising:

a master gaming controller designed or configured to control a game of chance played on the gaming machine;

a main display operable to display a presentation of the game of chance;

a touch screen coupled to the main display; and

a gaming device coupled to and mounted on the gaming machine comprising;

1) a multimedia board for processing digitally formatted program files including digitally formatted video content for output on the main display;

2) a memory device for storing the digitally formatted video content coupled to the multimedia board, wherein the digitally formatted video content includes still images; and

3) a controller designed or configured to;

a) communicate with the master gaming controller and one or more remote servers;

b) output a program comprising the digitally formatted video content to the main display;

c) in response to a request initiated at the gaming machine to one or more of the one or more remote servers, receive a download of the digitally formatted video content;

d) determine whether one or more conditions for when to display the digitally formatted video content is met;

e) in response to at least a first condition of the one or more conditions being met, display the digitally formatted video content;

f) collect gaming data from the gaming machine and g) send the gaming data to one of the one or more remote servers.

6. The gaming machine of claim 5, wherein the controller is further designed or configured to display a menu of programs on the main display that are available for output on the main display.

7. The gaming machine of claim 5, wherein the program is selected from a video-on-demand menu which provides a plurality of video program selections.

8. The gaming machine of claim 5, wherein the controller is further designed or configured to provide a feature that augments the game of chance generated by the master gaming controller.

9. The gaming machine of claim 5, wherein the program includes advertising.

10. The gaming machine of claim 5, wherein the gaming data includes credit information.

11. The gaming machine of claim 5, wherein the controller is further designed or configured to provide access to a sports book for wagering on a sporting event.

12. The gaming machine of claim 5, wherein the controller is further designed or configured to provide access to a game separate from the game chance controlled by the master gaming controller.

13. A gaming machine comprising:

a master gaming controller designed or configured to control a game of chance played on the gaming machine;

a main display operable to display a presentation of the game of chance;

a touch screen coupled to the main display; and

a gaming device coupled to and mounted on the gaming machine comprising;

1) a multimedia board for processing digitally formatted program files including digitally formatted video content for output on the main display; and

2) a memory device for storing the digitally formatted video content coupled to the multimedia board, wherein the digitally formatted video content includes still images; and

3) a controller designed or configured to;

a) communicate with the master gaming controller and one or more remote servers;

b) output a program comprising the digitally formatted video content to the main display;

c) in response to a request initiated at a first remote server to the gaming machine, receive a download of the digitally formatted video content;

d) determine whether one or more conditions for when to display the digitally formatted video content is met;

e) in response to at least a first condition of the one or more conditions being met, display the digitally formatted video content;

f) collect gaming data from the gaming machine; and

g) send the gaming data to one of the one or more remote servers.

14. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein the controller is further designed or configured to display a menu of programs on the main display that are available for output on the main display.

15. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein the program is selected from a video-on-demand menu which provides a plurality of video program selections.

16. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein the controller is further designed or configured to provide a feature that augments the game of chance generated by the master gaming controller.

17. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein the program includes advertising.

18. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein the gaming data includes credit information.

19. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein the controller is further designed or configured to provide access to a sports book for wagering on a sporting event.

20. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein the controller is further designed or configured to provide access to a game separate from the game chance controlled by the master gaming controller.