Feedback to player of device connection state

• US 8,961,306 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2012
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: LeMay, Steven G., Nelson, Dwayne R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MYHR, JUSTIN L
• Application Number:
  US13/466,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20130303263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 463 30- 32, 463 40- 42
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• 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 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements

Abstract

A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. Electronic gaming machines (EGMs) within the gaming system can be configured to allow play of wager-based games and interact with portable electronic devices. The EGMs can be configured with one or more of mechanisms that enable a user to establish and then determine a status of a communication session between a portable electronic device and the EGM. In addition, the EGMs can be configured with one or more mechanisms that enable a user to determine a status of a transaction or application involving a portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A wager-based electronic gaming machine (EGM) configured to output mobile device related information, the EGM comprising:

a cabinet;

a game controller, disposed within the cabinet, configured to control a wager-based game played on the EGM;

a value input device for accepting cash or credits used for wagers on the wager-based game;

a value output device for dispensing at least credits redeemable for cash;

a player input panel communicatively coupled to the game controller configured to receive inputs associated with the wager-based game;

a main display communicatively coupled to the EGM configured to show an outcome to a wager-based game;

a secondary display for outputting information to a player of the EGM relating to a mobile device, wherein the mobile device has a mobile device display;

a secondary controller configured to communicate with the mobile device and the game controller, such that the mobile device communicates with the game controller via the secondary controller; and

a mobile device related indicator integrated into a surface of the EGM at a location visible to the player for conveying mobile device related information to the player of the EGM, wherein at least one of a symbol and text associated with the mobile device related indicator is integrated into the surface such that at least one of the symbol and the text are visible when a lighting mechanism located underneath the surface is activated, and

wherein communication between the mobile device and the game controller includes the game controller being configured to directly send information to the mobile device while the secondary controller is configured to screen information from the mobile device to the game controller.

2. The EGM of claim 1, wherein the mobile device related indicator is used to convey whether a mobile device is actively communicating with a gaming device in a game system.

3. The EGM of claim 2, wherein the gaming device is a remote server communicatively coupled to the EGM.

4. The EGM of claim 3, wherein the EGM is configured to receive information from the remote server regarding whether the mobile device is actively communicating with the gaming system and in response, control the mobile device related indicator to indicate whether the mobile device is actively communicating with the gaming system.

5. The EGM of claim 2, wherein the lighting mechanism is turned on when the mobile device is actively communicating with the gaming device and turned off when the mobile device is not actively communicating with the gaming device.

6. The EGM of claim 2, wherein the lighting mechanism is controlled to emit a first color when the mobile device is actively communicating with the gaming device and is controlled to emit a second color when the mobile device is not actively communicating with the gaming device.

7. The EGM of claim 1, wherein at least one of the symbol and the text are raised from the surface or lowered from the surface to give the at least one of the symbol and text a three-dimensional appearance.

8. The EGM of claim 1, wherein the mobile device indicator is located on or adjacent to a bezel surrounding a card reader input slot on the EGM and wherein the lighting mechanism is controlled by the card reader controller.

9. The EGM of claim 1, wherein the mobile device indicator is located on or adjacent to a bezel surrounding a ticket output slot on the EGM.

10. The EGM of claim 1, wherein the mobile device indicator is located on or adjacent to a bezel surrounding a bill or ticket input slot on the EGM.

11. The EGM of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of mobile device indicators each including a lighting mechanism wherein a state of the lighting mechanism is independently controllable to indicate mobile device related information.

12. The EGM of claim 1, wherein the mobile device indicator is used to provide feedback information related to a type of wireless interface that is being utilized to enable communications between the mobile device and the gaming system and a current connection state associated with the type of wireless interface.

13. The EGM of claim 1, wherein the mobile device indicator is used to indicate whether the EGM is outputting power that can be used to charge the mobile device at the EGM.

14. The EGM of claim 1, further comprising one or more markings for conveying information related to a compatibility of the gaming system with one or more different mobile device types.

15. The EGM of claim 14, wherein the compatibility is related to an operating system utilized by the mobile device.

16. The EGM of claim 1, wherein the information relating to the mobile device is related to a transaction being performed that involves the mobile device.

17. The EGM of claim 1, further comprising a landing area configured to receive the mobile device.

18. The EGM of claim 17, wherein a wireless interface located beneath or adjacent to the landing area wherein a transfer of data is enabled between the mobile device and the gaming system when the mobile device is placed in the landing area, when a portion of the mobile device is used to make contact with the landing area or when the mobile device is briefly positioned near the landing area without physical contact between the landing area and the mobile device.

19. The EGM of claim 17, further comprising a lighting mechanism located adjacent to the landing area wherein the lighting mechanism is controlled to draw attention to the landing area.

20. The EGM of claim 17, further a lighting mechanism located beneath the landing area, the landing area being light transmissive to allow the landing area to be lit up when the lighting mechanism is activated.

21. The EGM of claim 1, wherein the main display is a video display or a mechanical display including one or more reels.

24. The EGM of claim 1, further comprising a third display positioned above the main display.

22. A wager-based electronic gaming machine (EGM) configured to output mobile device related information, the EGM comprising:

a cabinet;

a game controller, disposed within the cabinet, configured to control a wager-based game played on the EGM;

a value input device for accepting cash or credits used for wagers on the wager-based game;

a value output device for dispensing at least credits redeemable for cash;

a player input panel communicatively coupled to the game controller configured to receive inputs associated with the wager-based game;

a main display communicatively coupled to the EGM configured to show an outcome to a wager-based game;

a secondary display for outputting information to a player of the EGM relating to a mobile device, wherein the mobile device has a mobile device display;

a secondary controller configured to communicate with the mobile device and the game controller, such that the mobile device communicates with the game controller via the secondary controller; and

a plurality of mobile device related indicators, integrated into a surface on the EGM at a location visible to the player, for conveying mobile device related information to the player of the EGM, wherein at least one of a symbol and text is associated with each of the mobile device related indicators and a lighting mechanism is associated with each of the mobile device related indicators such that at least one of the symbol and the text are visible when the lighting mechanism is activated, and

wherein communication between the mobile device and the game controller includes the game controller being configured to directly send information to the mobile device while the secondary controller is configured to screen information from the mobile device to the game controller.

23. A wager-based electronic gaming machine (EGM) configured to output mobile device related information, the EGM comprising:

a cabinet;

a game controller, disposed within the cabinet, configured to control a wager-based game played on the EGM;

a value input device for accepting cash or credits used for wagers on the wager-based game;

a value output device for dispensing at least credits redeemable for cash;

a player input panel communicatively coupled to the game controller configured to receive inputs associated with the wager-based game;

a main display communicatively coupled to the EGM configured to show an outcome to a wager-based game;

a secondary display for outputting one or more mobile device related indicators for conveying information to a user of the EGM relating to a mobile device, wherein at least one of the indicators is for conveying whether the mobile device is currently in wireless communication with a gaming system, and wherein the mobile device has a mobile device display; and

a secondary controller configured to communicate with the mobile device and the game controller, such that the mobile device communicates with the game controller via the secondary controller, and wherein the communication between the mobile device and the game controller includes the game controller being configured to directly send information to the mobile device while the secondary controller is configured to screen information from the mobile device to the game controller.