Method, apparatus and system for perpetual bonus game
First Claim
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1. A gaming system comprising:
- a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including;
a housing,at least one display device supported by the housing,a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including;
(i) an acceptor, and(ii) a cashout device,at least one processor, andat least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the plurality of input device to;
(i) if a physical item is received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, and(ii) if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance; and
a computer configured to communicate with said plurality of gaming devices, said computer and said plurality of gaming devices configured to operate to;
(a) for a first gaming session played at a first one of the gaming devices;
(i) identify a player; and
(ii) for each of a first plurality of plays of a first primary game;
(A) enable the identified player to wager on said play of the first primary game, said credit balance of the first one of the gaming devices being decreasable based on said wager,(B) determine a primary game outcome,(C) display the determined primary game outcome, and(D) if a designated event occurs;
(I) enable the player to provide a non-wager bonus game input in an ongoing bonus game, and
(II) accumulate at least one of a plurality of bonus game elements in association with the identified player, said accumulation being based, at least in part, on the provided non-wager bonus game input;
(b) in association with the identified player, store the bonus game elements accumulated from the first gaming session; and
(c) for a second, subsequent gaming session played at a second one of the gaming devices;
(i) identify the player;
(ii) retrieve said bonus game elements accumulated from the first gaming session and stored in association with the identified player; and
(iii) for each of a second plurality of plays of a second primary game;
(A) enable the identified player to wager on said play of the second primary game, said credit balance of the second one of the gaming devices being decreasable based on said wager,(B) determine a primary game outcome,(C) display the determined primary game outcome, and(D) if the designated event occurs;
(I) enable the player to provide a non-wager bonus game input in the ongoing bonus game,
(II) accumulate at least one of the plurality of bonus game elements in association with the identified player, said accumulation being based, at least in part, on the provided non-wager bonus game input,
(III) determine any ongoing bonus game award for the identified player, said determination being based, at least in part, on;
(i) the bonus game elements accumulated in the first gaming session and retrieved for the second gaming session and (ii) the bonus game elements accumulated in the second gaming session, and
(IV) provide to the identified player any determined ongoing bonus game award, the credit balance of the second one of the gaming devices being increasable based on any determined ongoing bonus game award.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods of playing games and gaming systems and devices useful for playing games. Gaming devices include a first gaming unit for randomly selecting and displaying indicia associated with play of a primary game and for generating a signal relating to play on the first gaming unit. The gaming device also includes a second gaming unit connected to the first gaming unit for conducting an ongoing bonus game and enabling participation by a player in the ongoing bonus game in response to a signal generated by the first gaming unit. The ongoing bonus game may be administered by and communicated from a second gaming unit in the form of a host server to a number of networked gaming devices. Players may enter and exit play of the ongoing bonus game while it is still in progress, participating only in a segment thereof.
137 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A gaming system comprising:
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a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including; a housing, at least one display device supported by the housing, a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including; (i) an acceptor, and (ii) a cashout device, at least one processor, and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the plurality of input device to; (i) if a physical item is received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, and (ii) if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance; and a computer configured to communicate with said plurality of gaming devices, said computer and said plurality of gaming devices configured to operate to; (a) for a first gaming session played at a first one of the gaming devices; (i) identify a player; and (ii) for each of a first plurality of plays of a first primary game; (A) enable the identified player to wager on said play of the first primary game, said credit balance of the first one of the gaming devices being decreasable based on said wager, (B) determine a primary game outcome, (C) display the determined primary game outcome, and (D) if a designated event occurs;
(I) enable the player to provide a non-wager bonus game input in an ongoing bonus game, and
(II) accumulate at least one of a plurality of bonus game elements in association with the identified player, said accumulation being based, at least in part, on the provided non-wager bonus game input;(b) in association with the identified player, store the bonus game elements accumulated from the first gaming session; and (c) for a second, subsequent gaming session played at a second one of the gaming devices; (i) identify the player; (ii) retrieve said bonus game elements accumulated from the first gaming session and stored in association with the identified player; and (iii) for each of a second plurality of plays of a second primary game; (A) enable the identified player to wager on said play of the second primary game, said credit balance of the second one of the gaming devices being decreasable based on said wager, (B) determine a primary game outcome, (C) display the determined primary game outcome, and (D) if the designated event occurs;
(I) enable the player to provide a non-wager bonus game input in the ongoing bonus game,
(II) accumulate at least one of the plurality of bonus game elements in association with the identified player, said accumulation being based, at least in part, on the provided non-wager bonus game input,
(III) determine any ongoing bonus game award for the identified player, said determination being based, at least in part, on;
(i) the bonus game elements accumulated in the first gaming session and retrieved for the second gaming session and (ii) the bonus game elements accumulated in the second gaming session, and
(IV) provide to the identified player any determined ongoing bonus game award, the credit balance of the second one of the gaming devices being increasable based on any determined ongoing bonus game award. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 23)
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14. A gaming system comprising:
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a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including; a housing, at least one display device supported by the housing, a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including; (i) an acceptor, and (ii) a cashout device, at least one processor, and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the plurality of input devices to; (i) if a physical item is received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, and (ii) if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance; and a computer configured to communicate with said plurality of gaming devices, said computer and said plurality of gaming devices configured to operate to; (a) for a first gaming session played at a first one of the gaming devices; (i) identify a player; and (ii) for each of a first plurality of plays of a first primary game; (A) enable the identified player to wager on said play of the first primary game, said credit balance of the first one of the gaming devices being decreasable based on said wager, (B) determine a primary game outcome, (C) display the determined primary game outcome, and (D) if a designated event occurs;
(I) associate a bonus game attribute with the identified player, and
(II) enable the identified player to participate in an ongoing bonus game, said participation being based, at least in part, on the bonus game attribute associated with the identified player;(b) in association with the identified player, store the bonus game attribute associated with the identified player; and (c) for a second, subsequent gaming session played at a second one of the gaming devices; (i) identify the player; and (ii) for each of a second plurality of plays of a second primary game; (A) enable the identified player to wager on said play of the second primary game, said credit balance of the second one of the gaming devices being decreasable based on said wager, (B) determine a primary game outcome, (C) display the determined primary game outcome, and (D) if the designated event occurs;
(I) retrieve said bonus game attribute stored in association with the identified player,
(II) enable the identified player to participate in the ongoing bonus game, said participation being based, at least in part, on the bonus game attribute associated with the identified player,
(III) determine any ongoing bonus game award for the identified player, said determination being based, at least in part, on the bonus game attribute associated with the identified player'"'"'s participation in the ongoing bonus game, and
(IV) provide to the identified player any determined ongoing bonus game award, the credit balance of the second one of the gaming devices being increasable based on any determined ongoing bonus game award. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeIGT (International Game Technology)
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Original AssigneeIGT (International Game Technology)
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InventorsCannon, Lee E., DuPerault, Don G.
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Primary Examiner(s)D'Agostino, Paul A
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Application NumberUS14/184,340Publication NumberTime in Patent Office881 DaysField of SearchNoneUS Class Current1/1CPC Class CodesG07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or...G07F 17/3211 Display meansG07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming...G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determi...Y10T 436/106664 Blood serum or blood plasma...
