System and method for providing a bonus with remote non-game event input

• US 9,129,474 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2012
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kelly, Bryan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): YOO, JASSON H
• Application Number:
  US13/448,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20120202589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 463/7, 463/16, 463/25, 463/27, 463/29, 463/42
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• 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 17/326 Game play aspects of gaming systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking

Abstract

A system for providing a bonus with multiple remote inputs includes a bonus machine and at least one remote device. The bonus machine includes a game capable of providing a player with an award and maintains a bonus value. The remote device is independent of the bonus machine and transmits information associated with an event which can influence the bonus value. A method for providing a bonus with multiple remote inputs includes providing a first bonus machine having a bonus value and at least one game capable of providing a player with an award, providing a remote device, and communicating information from the remote device to the first bonus machine which can influence the bonus value.

Claims

1. A system for providing a bonus with remote device event input comprising:

a bonus machine including a bonus game, wherein the bonus machine is capable of providing a player with a bonus in conjunction with bonus game play and a radio frequency (RF) receiver coupled to the bonus machine, the bonus machine maintaining a bonus value which is at least one of increased and decreased by play of the bonus game, and wherein the bonus value can also be increased by an occurrence of a remote event unrelated to the bonus game play; and

at least one remote device including a counter device, event detection circuitry coupled to the counter device, a processor coupled to the event detection circuitry, and an RF transmitter coupled to the processor, the remote device having a purpose independent of the bonus machine and operable to wirelessly transmit, with the RF transmitter, information associated with the remote event as a one way serial data stream to the RF receiver of the bonus machine during bonus game play, wherein the at least one remote device is selected from the group consisting of a vending machine, a motion detector, a timer, a revolving door, and an admittance ticket counter, whereby the information can influence the bonus value;

wherein information is received from the at least one remote device by the bonus machine during play of the player game to increase the bonus value in conjunction with play of the player game; and

wherein the bonus machine provides at least one reward awarded to the player based on both the bonus game play and the received information.

2. A system for providing a bonus with remote device event input as claimed in claim 1 wherein the transmission of information by the remote device to the bonus machine is initiated by the occurrence of the remote event.

3. A system for providing a bonus with remote device event input as claimed in claim 1 wherein the remote event is when motion is detected by a motion detection device in a predetermined geographical location associated with the system.

4. A system for providing a bonus with remote device event input as claimed in claim 1 wherein a user of the remote device causes the remote event to occur at the remote device.

5. A system for providing a bonus with remote device event input as claimed in claim 1 wherein the remote event is applying a credit to the remote device.

6. A system for providing a bonus with remote device event input as claimed in claim 5 wherein applying the credit includes inserting a token into the remote device.

7. A method for providing a bonus with remote device event input comprising:

initializing operation of a first bonus machine including a game play processor and a radio frequency (RF) receiver coupled to the game play processor, the first bonus machine having a bonus value and at least one game provided by the game play processor and operable to provide a player with a bonus in conjunction with game play on the first bonus machine, where the bonus value is at least one of increased and decreased by play of the game;

activating a remote device including a processor, event detection circuitry coupled to the processor and an RF transmitter in serial communication with the RF receiver of the first bonus machine with a one-way serial data stream, the remote device operable to provide information to the first bonus machine and having a purpose independent of the first bonus machine, and wirelessly communicating information to the first bonus machine in response to a remote event unrelated to the game play on the first bonus machine detected by the event detection circuitry and transmitted by the RF transmitter of the remote device to the receiver of the first bonus machine during play of the game by the player on the first bonus machine, wherein the remote device is selected from the group consisting of a vending machine, a motion detector, a timer, a revolving door, and an admittance ticket counter;

processing the information by the game play processor to influence the bonus value of the first bonus machine, wherein information is received from the at least one remote device by the first bonus machine during play of the game by the player on the first bonus machine to increase the bonus value in conjunction with play of the game by the player on the first bonus machine, and wherein the first bonus machine provides at least one reward awarded to the player based on both play of the game on the first bonus machine and the received information; and

providing a second bonus machine coupled to the first bonus machine by discrete wires, wherein the bonus value is synchronized between the first bonus machine and the second bonus machine.

8. A method for providing a bonus with remote device event input as claimed in claim 7 wherein the remote event is a lapse of a period of time as determined by the remote device.

9. A method for providing a bonus with remote device event input as claimed in claim 7 wherein the remote event is when motion is detected in a predetermined geographical location associated with the first bonus machine.

10. A method for providing a bonus with remote device event input as claimed in claim 7 wherein a user of the remote device causes the remote event.

11. A method for providing a bonus with remote device event input as claimed in claim 7 wherein the remote event is a credit applied to the remote device.

12. A method for providing a bonus with remote device event input as claimed in claim 11 wherein the credit applied is a token inserted into an opening of the remote device.

13. A method for providing a bonus with remote device event input as claimed in claim 7 wherein communicating information includes sending a serial data message.

14. A method for providing a bonus with remote device event input as claimed in claim 13 wherein the serial data message includes channel identification information.