System gaming

• US 8,708,816 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2011
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Kelly, Bryan M., Crowder, Robert W. Jr., Lockard, Dennis, Luciano, Robert A. Jr., Talcott, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Deodhar, Omkar
• Assistant Examiner(s): RENWICK, REGINALD A
• Application Number:
  US13/158,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20110269534A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/42, 463/31
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• 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 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

A method provides a player tracking system and system gaming apparatus for playing non-base games by funding the credit side of a gaming cycle. The system further includes at least one gaming device having a base game. The player tracking system and system gaming apparatus includes a player tracking user interface. The player tracking user interface provides a player with an opportunity to select and play a non-base game that may be promotional-funded or player-funded.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming system comprising:

enabling, using one or more processors, play of a first game on a gaming machine;

enabling, using one or more processors, play of a second game on a player tracking user interface that is operatively coupled to the gaming machine, wherein the gaming system enables a player to choose which bonus game to play out of a plurality of bonus games independent of player ranking and bonus level, wherein each of the plurality of bonus games may be immediately initiated on demand, wherein once the player chooses the bonus game to play on demand, the chosen bonus game is immediately presented to the player via the player tracking user interface, wherein the player tracking user interface includes a display screen capable of rending a plurality of overlapping web browser interface frames;

enabling, using one or more processors, a frame manager to coordinate frame requests for viewing priority on the display screen, thereby ensuring proper priority to a topmost visible frame, wherein the gaming system enables a player to activate the second game displayed on the player tracking user interface; and

funding, using one or more processors, the activation of the second game is using player funds and promotional funds.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the frame manager uses XML template files that contain business rules to ensure proper priority of the frames.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the frame manager uses a frame manager business rule engine that determines to proper time for presenting information or frames to the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein frames that are not the topmost visible frame are buffered by the frame manager.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein frames that are not the topmost visible frame are relayed as secondary non-visible frames by the frame manager.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the frame manager enables use of a floating topmost visible frame that still allows a secondary frame to be partially viewed beneath the floating topmost visible frame.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the frame manager enables use of split screens, wherein the topmost visible frame shared a portion of the display screen with a secondary visible frame.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the bonus second game is chosen by the player while the base game is being played.

9. A method of operating a gaming system comprising:

enabling, using one or more processors, play of a first game on a gaming machine;

enabling, using one or more processors, play of a second game on a player tracking user interface that is operatively coupled to the gaming machine, wherein the gaming system enables a player to choose which bonus game to play out of a plurality of bonus games independent of player ranking and bonus level, wherein each of the plurality of bonus games may be immediately initiated on demand, wherein once the player chooses the bonus game to play on demand, the chosen bonus game is immediately presented to the player via the player tracking user interface, wherein the gaming system enables the player to choose when the chosen second game is activated for game play, and wherein the player tracking user interface includes a display screen capable of rending a plurality of overlapping web browser interface frames;

enabling, using one or more processors, a frame manager to coordinate frame requests for viewing priority on the display screen, thereby ensuring proper priority to a topmost visible frame, wherein the gaming system enables a player to activate the second game displayed on the player tracking user interface; and

funding, using one or more processors, the activation of the second game is using player funds and promotional funds;

wherein the chosen system game is a tournament game on demand, and wherein the tournament game on demand is accessible by the player throughout the life of the tournament.