Combined behavior schedules of reinforcement system

• US 8,974,286 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2009
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Antonio Mariano Parrottino
• Original Assignee: Antonio Mariano Parrottino
• Inventors: Parrottino, Antonio Mariano
• Primary Examiner(s): GEBREMICHAEL, BRUK A
• Application Number:
  US12/453,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20100298052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,118 Days
• Field of Search: 434/236, 434/238, 463/23, 463/37, 463/20, 463/21, 463/29
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• 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

Abstract

A device and method of operating a device to modify the rate of behavior of a user and a method of operating the device which may be a gaming device. The gaming device comprises a display, an input device, a timer and a processor circuit in communication with the display, the input device and the timer. The processor circuit calculates a rate of inputs from the input device and compares the rate of inputs against a predetermined threshold and determines a game result utilizing a variable interval schedule of reinforcement when the rate is above a predetermined threshold and causes the display to display a game result to the user. The method comprises receiving a plurality of inputs from the user at a user input device, calculating a rate of input from the plurality of inputs, determining a result from the inputs utilizing a combined differential reinforcement of high rate schedule of reinforcement and a variable interval schedule of reinforcement and providing the result to the user.

Claims

1. A method of operating a device to modify a behavior of a user, wherein said behavior comprises the rate of inputs provided by the user, the method comprising:

initiating authorization at an authorizing device, said authorizing device comprises at least one of a token receipt slot, and wherein said initiating comprises inputting a token via said token receipt slot;

receiving a plurality of inputs from the user at a user input device, wherein said user input device comprises a control device and an amplifying device, said amplifying device, when activated by the user, is adapted to multiply the user'"'"'s input received at the control device;

calculating a time-based frequency of inputs from said plurality of inputs using a processor circuit operable to receive said plurality of inputs from said user input device, wherein said processor circuit is in communication with a memory that stores at least two predetermined thresholds, a first threshold and a second threshold;

determining, using said processor circuit, a positive game result of said inputs according to a variable interval schedule of reinforcement only when said time-based frequency of inputs is above one or more of said predetermined thresholds, wherein said determining comprises;

comparing said time-based frequency of inputs against said predetermined thresholds using said processor circuit, wherein;

if the time-based frequency of inputs is greater than the first threshold but less than the second threshold, determine an unmodified positive game result; and

if the time-based frequency of the inputs is greater than both the first threshold and the second threshold, determine a modified positive game result;

wherein said variable interval schedule of reinforcement comprises a plurality of varied time intervals with a specified average time interval, and causes a reduced average time between positive game results as the time-based frequency of inputs is above one or more of the predetermined thresholds; and

providing said positive game result to said user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said device is a gaming device.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising providing a visual representation to said user representing time-based frequency of inputs at an output device.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising displaying said positive game result to said user on a display, wherein said positive game result is a winning game result.

5. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing the method of claim 1.

6. A gaming device comprising:

a display;

an authorizing device for initiating authorization, said authorizing device comprises at least one of a token receipt slot, and wherein said initiating comprises inputting a token via said token receipt slot;

an input device for receiving inputs from a user, said input device comprises a control device and an amplifying device, wherein said amplifying device, when activated by the user, is adapted to multiply the user'"'"'s input received at the control device;

a timer;

a memory for storing at least two predetermined thresholds, a first threshold and a second threshold;

a processor circuit for calculating a time-based frequency of inputs from said input device, wherein said processor circuit is in communication with said display, said authorizing device, said input device, said timer and said memory,

wherein said processor circuit is configured for determining a positive game result of said inputs by utilizing at least one variable interval schedule of reinforcement only when said time-based frequency is above one or more of said predetermined thresholds, wherein said determining comprises;

comparing said time-based frequency of inputs against said predetermined thresholds using said processor circuit, wherein;

if the time-based frequency of inputs is greater than the first threshold but less than the second threshold, determine an unmodified positive game result; and

if the time-based frequency of inputs is greater than both the first threshold and the second threshold, determine a modified positive game result;

wherein said variable interval schedule of reinforcement comprises a plurality of varied time intervals with a specified average time interval, and causes a reduced average time between positive game results as the time-based frequency of the inputs is above one or more of the predetermined thresholds; and

said processor circuit being operable to cause said display to display said positive game result to said user.

7. The gaming device of claim 6 wherein said positive game result is determined according to one of a plurality of variable interval schedules of reinforcement.

8. The gaming device of claim 7 wherein each of said variable interval schedules of reinforcement has a unique predetermined time-based frequency threshold of inputs.

9. The gaming device of claim 7 wherein each of said plurality of variable interval schedules of reinforcement has a unique level at which positive game results are provided to a user.

10. The gaming device of claim 6 wherein said positive game result is determined according to a first variable interval schedule of reinforcement when said time-based frequency of inputs is above said predetermined time-based frequency threshold of inputs and wherein said processor circuit determines no game result when said time-based frequency of inputs is below said predetermined time-based frequency threshold of inputs.

11. The gaming device of claim 6 wherein said processor circuit is operable to cause said display to provide a prompt to said user, said prompt instructing said user to provide inputs at a greater time-based frequency when said time-based frequency of inputs is below said predetermined time-based frequency threshold of inputs.

12. The gaming device of claim 6 further comprising an indicator for providing an indication to said user representing said time-based frequency of inputs as calculated by said processor circuit.

13. The gaming device of claim 12 wherein said processor circuit causes said indicator to indicate to said user that said time-based frequency of inputs is greater than a predetermined time-based frequency threshold of inputs.

14. The gaming device of claim 13 wherein said indicator comprises a visual indicator.