Method and apparatus for modifying gaming machines to provide supplemental or modified functionality

• US 8,734,213 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2012
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Western Gaming Properties
• Original Assignee: Western Gaming Properties
• Inventors: Dabrowski, Stanley P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US13/693,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20130095913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 16- 25, 463/30, 463/35, 463/42, 463/43
• US Class Current: 463/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2455 Printers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/247 audible, e.g. using a loudspeaker
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• 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 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• 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 17/3246 involving coins and/or banknotes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3281 wherein game attributes are transferred between players, e.g. points, weapons, avatars
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/24 with change-giving

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for transferring credits from one gaming device to another via the use of coded scrip is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of accepting a cash-out command in the gaming device, scanning a magnetically manifested code uniquely identifying a scrip stored in the gaming device, transmitting a cash-out message comprising the code to a remote processor having access to a database configured to store and retrieve codes from a plurality of gaming devices, receiving a scrip dispense message from the remote processor, and dispensing the scrip. The apparatus comprises a scrip storage unit, a scrip dispensing unit having a scrip transducer for reading and recording a magnetically manifested code on a scrip retrieved from the scrip storage unit, and a processor, communicatively coupled to the scrip transducer and a remote computer having access to a database for storing and retrieving code information from the plurality of gaming devices.

Claims

1. A method in an electronic gaming machine comprising:

receiving, by a first processor, electronic input data from a touch screen video display coupled to the electronic gaming machine associated with a play of a wager-based game;

determining, by the first processor, electronically an amount to be paid for the play of the wager-based game;

generating, by the first processor, a first signal including first electronic media data associated with the play of a wager-based game in accordance with the received electronic input from the touch screen video display including an amount won or lost;

outputting at a first time, under control of the first processor, the first signal to an output device;

receiving, in one of the first processor or a second processor, second electronic media data from a remote server;

generating, under control of one of the first processor or the second processor, a substitute signal based upon the first signal and the second electronic media data;

outputting, at a second time, under control of the first processor or the second processor the substitute signal to the output device on the electronic gaming machine;

receiving an electronic cash-out signal; and

in response to the electronic cash-out signal, determining a cash-out balance; and

dispensing printed scrip redeemable for the cash-out balance including the amount to be paid.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the output device comprises the touch screen video display.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the output device comprises an audio device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying the electronic input data from the touch screen display.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising routing the substitute signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electronic media data includes one or more of video data, audio data or combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second electronic media data includes one or more of video data, audio data or combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving second scrip issued from another electronic gaming machine, reading data from the second scrip, validating the read data and crediting an amount associated with the read data to the electronic gaming machine.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second scrip is a card.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the card includes a magnetic strip.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the read data is printed on the second scrip and read with an electronic scanner.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the data is stored and read from the second scrip in an electronic digital format.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising sending the read data to a remote device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving an indication from the remote device that the read data is valid.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the combined first electronic media data and the second electronic media include bonus play information.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the bonus play information is associated with a bonus play situation involving a plurality of electronic gaming machines.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the bonus play information is output to the touch screen video display.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating with a plurality of remote devices via a local area network.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating wirelessly with a second electronic device.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the second electronic device is a portable electronic device proximate to the electronic gaming machine.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a selection of a new game to be played on the electronic gaming machine via the touch screen video display.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the scrip is removed from the electronic gaming machine.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving data from a cash payout device or cash acceptor device for a plurality of transactions and determining the cash payout device or the cash acceptor device are faulty based-upon the received data.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving data from an Internet server.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the second electronic media data is received in the first processor, the substitute signal is generated under control of the first processor and the substitute signal is output under control of the first processor.