Method and apparatus for displaying gaming content

• US 8,979,626 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2013
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Sammon, Russell P., Tulley, Stephen, Tedesco, Daniel E., Tedesco, Robert C., Hayashida, Jeffrey Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEODHAR, OMKAR A
• Application Number:
  US13/860,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20130237319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 463/25, 463/29, 463/31
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/27 characterised by a large display in a public venue, e.g. in a movie theatre, stadium or game arena
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• 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 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• 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 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A method comprises receiving an indication of a triggering event at a gaming device, determining a gaming content associated with the gaming device, identifying a public display on which is displayed non-gaming media content, and outputting the gaming content on the public display wherein the gaming content supersedes at least a portion of the non-gaming media content.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an indication of an occurrence of a triggering event at a gaming device;

determining a gaming content associated with the gaming device;

outputting the gaming content on a non-public display device associated with the gaming device;

identifying a public display device on which is displayed non-gaming media content, said non-gaming media content being displayed independent of an occurrence of the triggering event; and

outputting the gaming content on the public display device wherein the outputted gaming content supersedes at least a portion of the outputted non-gaming media content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting the gaming content includes outputting the gaming content such that at least a portion of the non-gaming media content is obscured by the outputted gaming content.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the outputted gaming content is surrounded by the non-gaming media content.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the outputted gaming content is displayed in picture-in-picture format.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the gaming content is displayed as a scrolling overlay to the non-gaming media content.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-gaming media content includes audio content and visual content.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein outputting the gaming content includes reducing a display space of the visual content.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein outputting the gaming content includes outputting the gaming content and non-gaming media content in a split screen format.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting the gaming content includes outputting the gaming content such that the non-gaming media content is time shifted.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting the gaming content includes outputting the gaming content such that the non-gaming media content is paused.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting the gaming content includes outputting the gaming content such that the non-gaming media content is presented in real time.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting the gaming content includes outputting the gaming content such that the non-gaming media content is entirely obscured.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-gaming media content is retrieved from a storage device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the storage device is a VHS cassette.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the non-gaming media content is retrieved from the storage device in a digital format.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-gaming media content includes a television broadcast.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the television broadcast includes at least one of a network television broadcast and a cable television broadcast.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the triggering event includes a provision of consideration by a player at the gaming device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the consideration includes an amount of cash.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the consideration comprises includes a quantity of comp points.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the consideration includes a commitment to make a purchase.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the consideration includes a proof of a prior purchase.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the triggering event includes a request from a player of the gaming device.

24. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions configured to direct a processor to:

receive an indication of an occurrence of a triggering event at a gaming device;

determine a gaming content associated with the gaming device;

output the gaming content on a non-public display device associated with the gaming device;

identify a public display device on which is displayed non-gaming media content, said non-gaming media content being displayed independent of an occurrence of the triggering event; and

output the gaming content on the public display device wherein the outputted gaming content supersedes at least a portion of the outputted non-gaming media content.

25. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

receive an indication of an occurrence of a triggering event at a gaming device;

determine a gaming content associated with the gaming device;

output the gaming content on a non-public display with the gaming device;

identify a public display device on which is displayed non-gaming media content, said non-gaming media content being displayed independent of any occurrence of the triggering event; and

output the gaming content on the public display device wherein the outputted gaming content supersedes at least a portion of the outputted non-gaming media content.