Gaming machines with player reservation feature

• US 9,640,031 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2016
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vulcan Gaming LLC
• Original Assignee: Tipping Point Group, LLC
• Inventors: Johnson, Sam
• Primary Examiner(s): Hylinski, Steven J
• Application Number:
  US15/042,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20160267744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3204 Player-machine interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• 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 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine

Abstract

A player reservation feature is provided for a casino gaming machine by a secondary controller of the casino gaming machine. The player reservation feature may be accessed at the gaming machine or remotely at another gaming machine or other device, e.g., a smart phone, tablet, personal computer, and the like. The gaming machine is locked and unavailable for play except by the player that made the reservation. Reserving a gaming machine may be free, or a fee may be accessed for a reservation. Where a fee is assessed, the fee may be waived for a reserving player. Where the reservation feature is being accessed remotely, a casino floor map may be displayed at the device that is being used, such as another casino machine, smart phone, tablet, personal computer, and the like, along with information about each gaming machine on the casino floor.

Claims

1. A gaming machine with a reservation feature comprising:

a housing;

at least one video display;

at least one player input device;

a media issuing device;

a media reader;

a main game controller configured to output a video signal comprising game information to be displayed via said at least one video display regarding a wagering game presented at said gaming machine; and

a secondary controller that is (i) interposed between the at least one player input device and the main game controller, (ii) interposed between the at least one video display and the main game controller, (iii) configured to monitor and/or override instructions or data provided by the at least one player input device to the main game controller, (iv) configured to monitor and/or override instructions or data provided by the main game controller to the at least on video display and the at least on player input device, and (v) configured to receive reservation information identifying a reservation of said casino gaming machine made by a reserving player which limits play of said gaming machine except by said reserving player at a designated time, and (vi) configured to cause said media issuing device to issue a media having information associated therewith which, when read by said media reader, causes said secondary controller to allow said reserving player to play said gaming machine at said designated time.

2. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said media issuing device is a ticket printer.

3. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said media reader comprises a ticket reader.

4. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said secondary controller is further configured to cause said at least one video display to display at least one reservation page and is further configured to receive said reservation information via said at least one player input device of said at least one casino gaming machine.

5. A gaming system with a reservation feature comprising:

a first gaming machine comprising;

a housing;

at least one video display;

at least one player input device;

a media issuing device;

a media reader;

a main game controller configured to output a video signal comprising game information to be displayed via said at least one video display regarding a wagering game presented at said gaming machine; and

a secondary controller that is (i) interposed between the at least one player input device and the main game controller, (ii) interposed between the at least one video display and the main game controller, (iii) configured to monitor and/or override instructions or data provided by the at least one player input device to the main game controller, (iv) configured to monitor and/or override instructions or data provided by the main game controller to the at least on video display and the at least on player input device; and

a second gaming machine comprising;

a housing;

at least one video display;

at least one player input device;

a media issuing device;

a media reader;

a main game controller configured to output a video signal comprising game information to be displayed via said at least one video display regarding a wagering game presented at said gaming machine; and

a secondary controller that is (i) interposed between the at least one player input device and the main game controller, (ii) interposed between the at least one video display and the main game controller, (iii) configured to monitor and/or override instructions or data provided by the at least one player input device to the main game controller, (iv) configured to monitor and/or override instructions or data provided by the main game controller to the at least on video display and the at least on player input device; and

wherein said secondary controller of said first gaming machine is configured to receive reservation information identifying a reservation of said second casino gaming machine made by a reserving player which, implemented by said secondary controller of said second gaming machine, limits play of said second gaming machine except by said reserving player at a designated time, and said secondary controller of said first gaming machine being configured to cause said media issuing device to issue a media having information associated therewith which, when read by said media reader of said second gaming machine, causes said secondary controller of said second gaming machine to allow said reserving player to play said gaming machine at said designated time.

6. The gaming system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said media comprises a printed ticket issued by a ticket printer of said first gaming machine.

7. The gaming system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said media reader of said second gaming machine comprises a ticket reader.

8. A gaming machine with a reservation feature comprising:

a housing;

at least one video display;

at least one player input device;

a main game controller configured to output a video signal comprising game information to be displayed via said at least one video display regarding a wagering game presented at said gaming machine; and

a secondary controller that is (i) interposed between the at least one player input device and the main game controller, (ii) interposed between the at least one video display and the main game controller, (iii) configured to monitor and/or override instructions or data provided by the at least one player input device to the main game controller, (iv) configured to monitor and/or override instructions or data provided by the main game controller to the at least on video display and the at least on player input device, and (v) configured to receive reservation information identifying a reservation of said casino gaming machine made by a reserving player which limits play of said gaming machine except by said reserving player at a designated time, and (vi) configured to receive information which identifies said reserving player to permit said reserving player to play said gaming machine at said designated time.

9. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 8 wherein said information which identifies said reserving player comprises information associated with one or more of a player tracking card, a player tracking account, a credit card, a debit card and a driver'"'"'s license.

10. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 8 wherein said secondary controller is configured to communicate with an external server, said external server storing information regarding said reservation in association with an identify of said reserving player.

11. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 8 wherein said secondary controller locks said gaming machine from being played except by said reserving player at said designated time in response to instructions from said external server.

12. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 11 wherein said secondary controller is configured to transmit said information which identifies said reserving player to said external server for verification by said external server.