Controlling wagering game peripherals

• US 9,098,967 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2012
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Erickson, Eric V., Kelly, Sean P., Smith, Jesse M., Ugarte, Martin R. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Ross
• Application Number:
  US13/631,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20130084975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 463 40- 42, 463/46, 463/47
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• 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 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include establishing a connection with an input device, from a plurality of input devices configured for user input, for use in a wagering game during a wagering game session. The operations can further include receiving input data from the input device, wherein the input data has a first format specific to the input device, and wherein the wagering game requires the input data in a second format different from the first format. The operations can further include converting the input data from the first format to the second format required by the wagering game, and providing the input data to the wagering game in the second format for use as the user input for the wagering game.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of operating a wagering game system primarily dedicated to conducting a wagering game on a wagering game machine, the wagering game machine including a housing, one or more controllers, an electronic display device, a value input device, and a player input device, the electronic display device, the value input device, and the player input device being coupled to the housing, the method comprising:

establishing a connection with an input device, from a plurality of input devices configured for user input, for use in the wagering game presented via the wagering game machine during a wagering game session;

determining that the wagering game requests a type of input data;

determining, by a peripheral controller communicably coupled to the wagering game machine, that the input device is capable of generating the type of input data;

authorizing, by the peripheral controller, use of the input device in response to the determining that the input device is capable of generating the type of input data;

receiving input data from the input device, wherein the input data has a first format specific to the input device, and wherein the wagering game requires the input data in a second format different from the first format;

converting, via at least one of one or more processors of the peripheral controller, the input data from the first format to the second format required by the wagering game; and

providing, via at least one of the one or more processors of the peripheral controller, the input data to the wagering game in the second format for use as the user input for the wagering game.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the input data is generated via the input device in the first format according to one or more manufacturing-specific data formats of a manufacturer of the input device, and wherein the second format is one or more standardized data formats used for wagering games.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting a unique identifier of the input device;

searching a data store that specifies types of devices authorized for use during the wagering game session; and

determining, in response to the searching, that the unique identifier of the input device is associated with at least one of the types of devices, wherein the converting the input data from the first format to the second format is in response to the determining that the unique identifier is associated with the at least one of the types of devices.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a purpose for use of the input device in the wagering game; and

determining that the input device is authorized for the purpose;

wherein the converting the input data from the first format to the second format is in response to the determining that the input device is authorized for the purpose.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that a player identifier associated with the input device is selected, from a group of eligible players, for participation in an event for the wagering game; and

authorizing use of the input device based on the determining that the player identifier is selected.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising detecting authentication information for a player account associated with the player identifier via the input device, wherein the authorizing the use of the input device is based on the authentication information.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that the wagering game generates an event in response to the input data;

receiving response data from the wagering game in the second format in response to the event in the wagering game;

determining that the input device has functionality that can respond to the response data;

converting the response data to the first format in response to the determining that the input device has the functionality that can respond to the response data; and

providing the response data in the first format for indication of the event in the wagering game via the input device.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

prior to converting the input data from the first format to the second format, determining that a second input device, selected from the plurality of input devices, is not authorized for use with the wagering game;

determining that the input device is authorized for use with the wagering game; and

providing, for presentation via the wagering game machine, an indicator that that the input device is authorized instead of the second input device.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

prior to converting the input data from the first format to the second format, requesting, from the input device, activation of one or more input controls of the input device;

detecting the activation of the one or more input controls; and

configuring the input device for use with the wagering game based on the activation of the one or more input controls.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the wagering game requires a number of different types of input, and wherein the configuring the input device for use with the wagering game based on the activation of the one or more input controls comprises determining that the activation of the one or more input controls provides at least the number of different types of input required by the wagering game.

11. One or more machine-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a set of one or more processors causes the set of one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

establishing a connection with an input device, from a plurality of input devices configured for user input, for use in a wagering game presented via a wagering game machine during a wagering game session;

determining that the wagering game requests a type of input data;

determining, by a peripheral controller communicably coupled to the wagering game machine, that the input device is capable of generating the type of input data;

authorizing, by the peripheral controller, use of the input device in response to the determining that the input device is capable of generating the type of input data;

receiving input data from the input device, wherein the input data has a first format specific to the input device, and wherein the wagering game requires the input data in a second format different from the first format;

converting, by the peripheral controller, the input data from the first format to the second format required by the wagering game; and

providing the input data to the wagering game in the second format for use as the user input for the wagering game.

12. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the input data is generated via the input device in the first format according to one or more manufacturing-specific data formats of a manufacturer of the input device, and wherein the second format is one or more standardized data formats used for wagering games.

13. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 11, said operations further comprising:

detecting a unique identifier of the input device;

searching a data store that specifies types of devices authorized for use during the wagering game session; and

determining, in response to the searching, that the unique identifier of the input device is associated with at least one of the types of devices, wherein the converting the input data from the first format to the second format is in response to the determining that the unique identifier is associated with the at least one of the types of devices.

14. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 11, said operations further comprising:

determining a purpose for use of the input device in the wagering game; and

determining that the input device is authorized for the purpose;

wherein the input data is converted from the first format to the second format in response to the determining that the input device is authorized for the purpose.

15. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 11, said operations further comprising:

determining that a player identifier associated with the input device is selected, from a group of eligible players, for participation in an event for the wagering game; and

authorizing use of the input device based on the determining that the player identifier is selected.

16. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 15, said operations further comprising detecting authentication information for a player account associated with the player identifier via the input device, wherein the authorizing the use of the input device is based on the authentication information.

17. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 11, said operations further comprising:

determining that the wagering game generates an event in response to the input data;

receiving response data from the wagering game in the second format in response to the event in the wagering game;

determining that the input device has functionality that can respond to the response data;

converting the response data to the first format in response to the determining that the input device has the functionality that can respond to the response data; and

providing the response data in the first format for indication of the event in the wagering game via the input device.

18. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 11, said operations further comprising:

prior to converting the input data from the first format to the second format, determining that a second input device, selected from the plurality of input devices, is not authorized for use with the wagering game;

determining that the input device is authorized for use with the wagering game; and

providing, for presentation via the wagering game machine, an indicator that that the input device is authorized instead of the second input device.

19. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 11, said operations further comprising:

prior to converting the input data from the first format to the second format, requesting, from the input device, activation of one or more input controls of the input device;

detecting the activation of the one or more input controls; and

configuring the input device for use with the wagering game based on the activation of the one or more input controls.

20. The one or more machine-readable storage media of claim 19, wherein the wagering game requires a number of different types of input, and wherein configuring the input device for use with the wagering game based on the activation of the one or more input controls comprises determining that the activation of the one or more input controls provides at least the number of different types of input required by the wagering game.

21. A system primarily dedicated to playing a wagering game comprising:

a wagering game machine having a housing, the housing coupled to one or more controllers, an electronic display device, a value input device, and a player input device, wherein the wagering game machine presents the wagering game;

a peripheral controller communicably coupled to the wagering game machine, the peripheral controller having one or more processors; and

one or more memory storage devices configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the system to perform operations to;

detect a connection between an input device and the wagering game machine;

determining that the wagering game requests a type of input data;

determine that the input device is capable of generating the type of input data;

authorize use of the input device after determination that the input device is capable of generating the type of input data;

detect input data from the input device as user input for the wagering game, wherein the input data has a first format specific to the input device, and wherein the wagering game requires the input data in a second format different from the first format,

convert the input data from the first format to the second format required by the wagering game, and

provide the input data to the wagering game in the second format for use as the user input for the wagering game.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the input data is generated via the input device in the first format according to one or more manufacturing-specific data formats of a manufacturer of the input device, and wherein the second format is one or more standardized data formats used for wagering games.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the one or more memory storage devices are configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the system to further perform operations to:

detect a unique identifier of the input device;

search a data store that specifies types of devices authorized for use during a wagering game session; and

determine that the unique identifier of the input device is associated with at least one of the types of devices, wherein the input data is converted from the first format to the second format in response to determination that the unique identifier is associated with the at least one of the types of devices.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the one or more memory storage devices are configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the system to further perform operations to:

determine a purpose for use of the input device in the wagering game; and

determine that the input device is authorized for the purpose, wherein the input data is converted from the first format to the second format in response to determination that the input device is authorized for the purpose.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the one or more memory storage devices are configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the system to further perform operations to:

determine that a player identifier associated with the input device is selected, from a group of eligible players, for participation in an event for the wagering game; and

authorize use of the input device based on determination that the player identifier is selected.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the one or more memory storage devices are configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the system to further perform operations to detect authentication information for a player account associated with the player identifier via the input device, wherein the operation to authorize the use of the input device is based on the authentication information.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein the one or more memory storage devices are configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the system to further perform operations to:

determine that the wagering game generates an event in response to the input data;

receive response data from the wagering game in the second format in response to the event in the wagering game;

determine that the input device has functionality that can respond to the response data;

convert the response data to the first format in response to determination that the input device has the functionality that can respond to the response data; and

provide the response data in the first format to the input device to indicate the event.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein the one or more memory storage devices are configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the system to further perform operations to:

prior to the input data being converted from the first format to the second format, determine that a second input device, selected from a plurality of input devices, is not authorized for use with the wagering game;

determine that the input device is authorized for use with the wagering game; and

provide, for presentation via the wagering game machine, an indicator that that the input device is authorized instead of the second input device.

29. The system of claim 21, wherein the one or more memory storage devices are configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the system to further perform operations to:

prior to the input data being converted from the first format to the second format, request, from the input device, activation of one or more input controls of the input device;

detect the activation of the one or more input controls; and

configure the input device for the wagering game based on the activation of the one or more input controls.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the wagering game requires a number of different types of input, and wherein the operation to configure the input device for the wagering game based on the activation of the one or more input controls comprises an operation to determine that the activation of the one or more input controls provides at least the number of different types of input required by the wagering game.