Interface for wagering game environments

• US 8,672,752 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2008
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Gagner, Mark B., Grabiec, Jacek A., Gura, Damon E., Irby, Michael J. II, Pacey, Larry J., Schulhof, Scott H., Wright, Tracey L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Assistant Examiner(s): MYHR, JUSTIN L
• Application Number:
  US12/741,745
• Publication Number:
  US 20100267449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,955 Days
• Field of Search: 463/29, 463 36- 37
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played

Abstract

This document describes inter alia a method for presenting an interface on a wagering game machine, where the interface includes a plurality of wagering game icons, and where each of the wagering game icons indicates a wagering game that is available on the wagering game machine. The method can include presenting wagering game icons in an interface, wherein the wagering game icons form a row, and wherein each wagering game icon occupies a position in the row, and detecting a sweeping screen touch on a touch screen. The method can also include shifting, based on the sweeping screen touch, the wagering game icons to different positions in the row, where the shifting causes a wagering game icon at an end position in the row to disappear from the interface, and where the shifting also causes a new wagering game icon to appear at another end position in the row.

Claims

1. A method for offering wagering games for selection and presentation on a wagering game machine, the method comprising:

presenting, by a processor, wagering game icons in an interface of the wagering game machine, wherein the wagering game icons form a row, and wherein each wagering game icon occupies a position in the row;

detecting a sweeping screen touch on a touch screen, wherein the interface appears on the touch screen;

shifting, based on the sweeping screen touch, the wagering game icons to different positions in the row, wherein the shifting causes a wagering game icon at an end position in the row to disappear from the interface, wherein the shifting also causes a previously presented wagering game icon to appear at another end position in the row;

detecting a single tap on the touch screen, wherein the single tap coincides with one of the wagering game icons, wherein the one of the wagering game icons is associated with a wagering game, wherein the single tap causes presentation of configuration options for the wagering game, wherein the configuration options include a denomination selection, and wherein the single tap causes presentation of dynamic information associated with the wagering game and a player;

determining a credit balance for the wagering game machine;

determining that the credit balance for the wagering game machine is below one or more denominations for the wagering game;

presenting the configuration options for the wagering game including the denomination selection, wherein the denomination selection includes denominations for the wagering game that are below the credit balance for the wagering game machine;

determining the dynamic information associated with the wagering game and a player, wherein the dynamic information indicates social contacts associated with the player that have recently played the wagering game;

presenting the dynamic information in the interface;

detecting a double tap on the touch screen, wherein the double tap causes presentation of the wagering game; and

presenting the wagering game.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information includes real-time data related to one or more of the player'"'"'s social contacts currently playing the wagering game, the player'"'"'s social contacts'"'"' ratings of the wagering game, recent jackpots won on the wagering game, a duration since a last jackpot was won on the wagering game, and information about the wagering game.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the presenting the dynamic information includes presenting only the dynamic information available at the time of presentation.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, from among the dynamic information, current options available for the player; and

presenting, in the interface, the current options available for the player.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining side betting options available for the wagering game;

presenting, in the interface, the side betting options available for the wagering game; and

receiving user input selecting one or more of the side betting options.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining trophies available for the wagering game; and

presenting, in the interface, the available trophies.

7. A method for presenting an interface on a wagering game machine, the interface including a plurality of wagering game icons associated with a plurality of wagering games that are available on the wagering game machine, the method comprising:

presenting, by one or more processors, the plurality of wagering game icons in the interface on the wagering game machine, wherein a first wagering game icon of the wagering game icons is larger than the other wagering game icons, and wherein a first group of the wagering game icons appears in a first queue left of the first wagering game icon, and wherein a second group of the wagering game icons appears in a second queue right of the first wagering game icon;

detecting touch screen input requesting movement of the wagering game icons;

moving, in the interface on the wagering game machine, the first wagering game icon to appear at a front position of the first queue, wherein the moving includes shrinking the first icon;

moving, in the interface on the wagering game machine, one of the second group of wagering game icons to replace the first wagering game icon, wherein the moving includes enlarging the one of the second group of wagering game icons;

detecting a second touch screen input, wherein the second touch screen input coincides with the enlarged on of the second group of wagering game icons, wherein the second touch screen input causes presentation of configuration options for the wagering game, wherein the configuration options include a denomination selection, and wherein the second touch screen input causes presentation of dynamic information associated with the wagering game and a player;

determining a credit balance for the wagering game machine;

determining that the credit balance for the wagering game machine is below one or more denominations for the wagering game;

presenting the configuration options for the wagering game including the denomination selection, wherein the denomination selection includes denominations for the wagering game that are below the credit balance for the wagering game machine;

determining the dynamic information associated with the wagering game and a player, wherein the dynamic information indicates social contacts associated with the player that have recently played the wagering game;

detecting more touch screen input indicating a selection of the enlarged one of the second group of icons;

presenting, in the interface on the wagering game machine, a wagering game associated with the enlarged one of the second group of wagering game icons.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

presenting, in response to the second touch screen input, the dynamic information.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining real-time data associated with the wagering game, wherein the real-time data includes one or more of trophies available for the wagering game, players currently playing the wagering game, recent jackpots awarded for the wagering game, tournaments available for the wagering game; and

presenting, in the interface, the real-time data.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

determining side bets available for the wagering game;

presenting, in the interface, the side bets; and

receiving user input selecting one of the side bets.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

determining trophies available for the wagering game;

presenting, in the interface, the trophies available for the wagering game; and

receiving user input, wherein the user input scrolls though the trophies available for the wagering game.