Gaming device and method for wireless gaming system providing non-intrusive processes

• US 8,696,449 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2013
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Leap Forward Gaming, Inc. (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Wells, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): LARSEN, CARL VICTOR
• Application Number:
  US13/738,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20130130790A1
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 11/00 Game accessories of general use , e.g. score counters, boxes
• 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 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• 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 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/009 User recognition or proximity detection
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A gaming peripheral for a gaming machine is described. The gaming peripheral can be configured to emulate the functions of a lighting device, such as a candle. The gaming peripheral can be configured to provide enhanced gaming features such as 1) enhanced networking capabilities, 2) enhanced peripheral device monitoring and upgrade capabilities, 3) enhanced player monitoring and security capabilities 4) enhanced gaming function capabilities and 5) enhanced player reward capabilities. The enhanced gaming features can be provided in a non-intrusive manner such that regulated software executed on a gaming machine does not have to be altered.

Claims

1. A method in an electronic gaming machine including a secure gaming cabinet, first security circuitry configured to detect when an interior of the secure gaming cabinet is accessed, a game controller located within the interior of the secure gaming cabinet configured to monitor the first security circuitry and control a play of a wager-based game played on the gaming machine, a touch screen video display coupled to the secure gaming cabinet, a value input device coupled to the secure gaming cabinet, a value output device coupled to the secure gaming cabinet, a gaming enhancement module, added during a retrofit of the gaming machine, configured to operate in conjunction with existing software executed by the game controller prior to the retrofit such that modifications to the existing software are not required, the gaming enhancement module including a gaming enhancement module controller and second security circuitry separate from the first security circuitry, the second security circuitry monitored only by the gaming enhancement module controller, the method comprising:

receiving in the gaming enhancement module controller, via a first communication pathway added during the retrofit, first data from the value input device wherein the game controller is configured to interact with the value input device using the existing software;

receiving in the gaming enhancement module controller, via a second communication pathway added during the retrofit, second data from the value output device wherein the game controller is configured to interact with the value output device using the existing software;

receiving in the gaming enhancement module controller, via a third communication pathway added during the retrofit, third data from the game controller;

receiving in the gaming enhancement module controller, via a fourth communication pathway added during the retrofit, fourth data from a remote server;

receiving in the gaming enhancement module controller, via a fifth communication pathway added during the retrofit, touch screen data from the touch screen video display, wherein the game controller is configured to receive and process touch screen inputs from the touch screen video display using the existing software;

based upon one of the first data, the second data, the third data, the fourth data, the touch screen data or combinations thereof, generating by the gaming enhancement module controller secondary video content;

sending under control of the gaming enhancement module via a sixth communication pathway added during the retrofit the secondary video content to a video display wherein the secondary video content is output simultaneously with or lieu of video content generated by the game controller using the existing software;

while the electronic gaming machine is operational for the play of the wager-based game, receiving in the gaming enhancement module first security data associated with the first security circuitry and second security data associated with the second security circuitry and;

based upon the first security data or the second circuitry data determining whether a security event has occurred.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data includes transactional data associated with a value amount accepted via the value input device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data includes operational data associated with an operational condition of the value input device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second data includes transactional data associated with a value amount dispensed via the value output device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second data includes operational data associated with an operational condition of the value output device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the third data includes operational data associated with an operational condition of the electronic gaming machine as determined by the game controller using the existing software.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the third data includes the first security data associated with first security circuitry.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the fourth data includes a portion of the secondary video content.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch screen data is generated in response to the secondary video content sent to the touch screen video display by the gaming enhancement module controller.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first security data is associated with one of a loss of power to the gaming machine, a device failure or a door opening on the gaming machine.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the second security data is associated with one or more of detecting an attempt to a) access the gaming enhancement module, b) modify the gaming enhancement module or 3) a power interruption to the gaming enhancement module.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending under control of the gaming enhancement module controller communications to the remote server via a wireless interface.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the secondary video content for a bonus game presentation for a bonus game triggered from the play of the wager-based game controlled by the game controller.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the bonus game presentation is used to replace video content for a bonus game presentation generated by the game controller.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the touch screen data is associated with a play of the bonus game.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the secondary video content for a transaction involving a transfer of value to the electronic gaming machine or a transfer of value from the electronic gaming machine.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the secondary video content for a menu options selectable using the touch screen video display.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the secondary video content for a group game or a tournament game wherein a user participates in the group game or the tournament game via the electronic gaming machine.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the secondary video content for a promotional offer.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the promotional offer involves a transfer of value to or from the electronic gaming machine.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the video display is the touch screen video display.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the video display is separate from the touch screen video display.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the fourth communication pathway includes one of a wireless communication link, a wired communication link or combinations thereof.

24. A method in an electronic gaming machine including a secure gaming cabinet, first security circuitry configured to detect when an interior of the secure gaming cabinet is accessed, a game controller located within the interior of the secure gaming cabinet configured to monitor the first security circuitry and control a play of a wager-based game played on the gaming machine, reel mechanisms coupled to the secure gaming cabinet for outputting an outcome of the wager-based game, a touch screen video display coupled to the gaming machine cabinet, a value input device coupled to the secure gaming cabinet, a value output device coupled to the secure gaming cabinet, a gaming enhancement module, added during a retrofit of the gaming machine, configured to operate in conjunction with existing software executed by the game controller prior to the retrofit such that modifications to the existing software are not required, the gaming enhancement module including a gaming enhancement module controller and second security circuitry separate from the first security circuitry, the second security circuitry monitored only by the gaming enhancement module controller, the method comprising:

receiving in the gaming enhancement module controller, via a first communication pathway added during the retrofit first data, from the value input device wherein the game controller is configured to interact with the value input device using the existing software;

receiving in the gaming enhancement module controller, via a second communication pathway added during the retrofit, second data from the value output device wherein the game controller is configured to interact with the value output device using the existing software;

receiving in the gaming enhancement module controller, via a third communication pathway added during the retrofit, third data from the game controller;

receiving in the gaming enhancement module controller, via a fourth communication pathway added during the retrofit, fourth data from a remote server;

receiving in the gaming enhancement module controller, via a fifth communication pathway added during the retrofit, touch screen data from the touch screen video display;

based upon one of the first data, the second data, the third data, the fourth data, touch screen data or combinations thereof, generating by the gaming enhancement module controller secondary video content;

sending under control of the gaming enhancement module, via a sixth communication pathway added during the retrofit the secondary video content to the touch screen video display;

while the electronic gaming machine is operational for a play of the wager-based game, receiving in the gaming enhancement module first security data associated with the first security circuitry and second security data associated with the second security circuitry and;

based upon the first security data or the second circuitry data determining whether a security event has occurred.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the third data is associated with the reel mechanisms.