Dynamic player notices for operational changes in gaming machines

• US 8,636,596 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2005
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Rowe, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): GARNER, WERNER G
• Application Number:
  US11/176,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20050282638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,128 Days
• Field of Search: 463/29, 463 40- 43
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

A gaming terminal data repository (GTDR) for storing game software components and transaction information for gaming machine and gaming terminals is disclosed. A system database is partitioned according to different gaming entities allowing game software component configurations of particular gaming terminals to be easily analyzed and modified. Game software components for gaming terminals connected to the GTDR may be automatically updated using various triggers. System gaming machines may utilize a combination of game software components residing on the gaming machine and those received from the GTDR. A player compliance module (PCM) can be adapted to detect significant changes to gaming machine or gaming terminal playing conditions or parameters, and provide appropriate notices to players of such changes dynamically. The PCM can also facilitate the creation of a log or audit trail to confirm that such player notices have been provided.

Claims

1. A gaming terminal data repository, comprising:

a network interface adapted to communicate with a first gaming terminal located separate from said gaming terminal data repository, said first gaming terminal being adapted to accept wagers, play games based on said wagers, and provide monetary awards based on the outcomes of said games;

a memory arranged to store gaming terminal transaction information received from said first gaming terminal and game software components for use by said first gaming terminal, wherein at least one of said game software components stored at said gaming terminal data repository memory is not also stored at said first gaming terminal; and

a processor configured;

i) to update game software components on said first gaming terminal using one or more update triggers, ii) to receive game software component information from said first gaming terminal, wherein the game software component information describes game software components stored on said first gaming terminal, and iii) to download game software components adapted to present a game of chance to said first gaming terminal,

wherein the gaming terminal data repository is configured to;

determine a first gaming jurisdiction where said first gaming terminal is located, generate instructions for configuring game software components that comply with rules of said first gaming jurisdiction, and send the instructions for configuring the game software components to said first gaming terminal such that game software components stored on said first gaming terminal can be combined with game software components downloaded from the gaming terminal data repository to create a different combination of game software components to provide different game play features to enable a new version of a current game or a different game to be played if the current game is performing poorly.

2. The gaming terminal data repository of claim 1, further comprising:

a player compliance module adapted to facilitate the provision of information regarding one or more operational changes of said first gaming terminal, said one or more operational changes resulting at least in part from communications from said gaming terminal data repository.