Method and apparatus for modifying gaming machines to provide supplemental or modified functionality

• US 9,437,075 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2015
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Western Gaming Properties
• Original Assignee: Western Gaming Properties
• Inventors: Dabrowski, Stanley P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US14/636,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20150170458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 26, 463/30, 463/35, 463/42, 463/43
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2455 Printers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/247 audible, e.g. using a loudspeaker
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• 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 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3246 involving coins and/or banknotes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3281 wherein game attributes are transferred between players, e.g. points, weapons, avatars
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/24 with change-giving

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for transferring credits from one gaming device to another via the use of coded scrip is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of accepting a cash-out command in the gaming device, scanning a magnetically manifested code uniquely identifying a scrip stored in the gaming device, transmitting a cash-out message comprising the code to a remote processor having access to a database configured to store and retrieve codes from a plurality of gaming devices, receiving a scrip dispense message from the remote processor, and dispensing the scrip. The apparatus comprises a scrip storage unit, a scrip dispensing unit having a scrip transducer for reading and recording a magnetically manifested code on a scrip retrieved from the scrip storage unit, and a processor, communicatively coupled to the scrip transducer and a remote computer having access to a database for storing and retrieving code information from the plurality of gaming devices.

Claims

1. An electronic gaming device comprising:

a video display;

a touch screen input device coupled to the video display;

a first processor configured to generate output to the video display associated with a play of a wager-based game via a first communication path, to receive input from the touch screen input device via a second communication path;

a second processor communicatively coupled to the first communication path and the second communication path,

the second processor configured to;

control an interruption of a first signal from the first processor to the video display on the first communication path,

control an interruption of a second signal from the touch screen input device to the first processor on the second communication path; and

generate a first substitute signal comprising an announcement for the first signal and a second substitute signal for the second signal.

2. The electronic gaming device of claim 1, wherein the second processor is further configured to route information from the first signal or the second signal to a destination device.

3. The electronic gaming device of claim 1, wherein the second processor is further configured to modify electronic input data from the touch screen input device.

4. The electronic gaming device of claim 1, further comprising a wireless interface wherein the electronic gaming device is configured to communicate via the wireless interface.

5. The electronic gaming device of claim 4, wherein the second processor is configured to communicate with a portable electronic device proximate to the electronic gaming device via the wireless interface.

6. The electronic gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first processor is further configured to communicate with a remote device via a third communication path.

7. The electronic gaming device of claim 6, wherein the second processor is further configured to control interruption of a third signal between first processor and the remote device.

8. The electronic gaming device of claim 7, wherein the second processor is configured to generate a third substitute signal for the third signal.

9. The electronic gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first signal is interrupted by a signal interrupting and substitution device communicatively coupled to the second processor.

10. The electronic gaming device of claim 9, wherein the second processor is further configured to receive the first signal from the signal interrupting and substitution device and route the signal to a destination device.

11. The electronic gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first substitute signal is generated without the first signal.

12. The electronic gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first substitute signal is generated at least in part from the first signal.

13. The electronic gaming device of claim 1, further comprising a network interface wherein at least the second processor is configured to communicate with a remote server via the network interface.

14. The electronic gaming device of claim 13, wherein the first substitute signal is generated at least in part from the first signal and information received from the remote server.

15. The electronic gaming device of claim 13, further comprising a network interface, wherein the second processor is further configured to receive first electronic media data from the remote server and second electronic media data from first processor, combine the first electronic media data and the second electronic media data and output the combined first electronic media data and the second electronic media data to an output device communicatively coupled to the first processor and the second processor.

16. The electronic gaming device of claim 15, wherein the output device is an audio device.

17. The electronic gaming device of claim 15, wherein the output device is the video display.

18. The electronic gaming device of claim 15, wherein the first electronic media information and the second electronic media information are each electronic video data.

19. The electronic gaming device of claim 15, wherein the first electronic media information and the second electronic media information are each electronic audio data.

20. The electronic gaming device of claim 1, wherein the second processor is configured to output to the video display video content associated with the play of a game.