Remote configuration of gaming terminals

• US 9,836,918 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2016
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nelson, Dwayne R., Kiely, Daryn, Rowe, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US15/011,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20160148460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine

Abstract

A gaming terminal data repository (GTDR) for storing game software components and transaction information for gaming machine and gaming terminals is disclosed. A system database is partitioned according to different gaming entities allowing game software component configurations of particular gaming terminals to be easily analyzed and modified. Game software components for gaming terminals connected to the GTDR may be automatically updated using various triggers. System gaming machines may utilize a combination of game software components residing on the gaming machine and those received from the GTDR. A library of preset gaming terminal configurations can be stored at the system database, where each such preset configuration includes specific settings for each of a plurality of gaming terminal setting categories. Gaming terminals can be configured remotely using the GTDR, and possibly one or more of the stored preset gaming terminal configurations.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming terminals each including a housing, a display device supported by the housing, a plurality of input devices supported by the housing and including an acceptor, a gaming terminal processor, a first network interface, and a gaming terminal memory; and

at least one remote configuration device configured to communicate with each gaming terminal via a second network interface, said remote configuration device including a memory storing a plurality of different game software component updates, each game software component update associated with one of a plurality of different gaming jurisdictions, and a processor configured to, upon an occurrence of an update trigger in association with one of the plurality of gaming terminals;

(a) determine a gaming jurisdiction in which the gaming terminal is located;

(b) select one of the plurality of different game software component updates associated with the gaming jurisdiction in which the gaming terminal is located; and

(c) communicate to the gaming terminal the selected game software component update,

wherein the gaming terminal is configured to, upon receipt of the game software component update, automatically install the game software component update to reconfigure the gaming terminal in accordance with rules of the gaming jurisdiction in which the gaming terminal is located to enable play of a game following receipt of a physical item associated with a monetary value by the acceptor and establishment of a credit balance based at least in part on the monetary value associated with the received physical item, the play of the game provided upon receipt of a wager deducted from the credit balance, the play of the game resulting in an outcome, the credit balance increasable by any award associated with the outcome.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the game software component update is one selected from the group consisting of:

a game paytable, a game bonus, a game progressive, game graphics, game sounds, and game networking components.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first and second network interfaces are wireless network interfaces or wired network interfaces.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the update trigger occurs when a profitability level of the gaming terminal falls below a designated profitability level.

5. The gaming system of claim 4, wherein the game is different than a game playable on the gaming terminal before the game software component update was installed.

6. The gaming system of claim 4, wherein the game is a different type of game than a game playable on the gaming terminal before the game software component update was installed.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the update trigger occurs at a designated time of day.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the update trigger occurs on a designated date.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the update trigger occurs based on game performance.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the game software component update is a first game software component update if the gaming terminal is located in a first jurisdiction and a second different game software component update if the gaming terminal is located in a second different jurisdiction.

11. A method of operating a gaming system including at least one remote configuration device and a plurality of gaming terminals, said method comprising:

upon an occurrence of an update trigger in association with one of the plurality of gaming terminals, determining, by the at least one remote configuration device, a gaming jurisdiction in which the gaming terminal is located;

selecting, by the at least one remote configuration device, one of a plurality of different game software component updates, each game software component update associated with one of a plurality of different gaming jurisdictions, the selected game software component update associated with the gaming jurisdiction in which the gaming terminal is located;

communicating, by the at least one remote configuration device and to the gaming terminal, the selected game software component update; and

upon receipt of the game software component update, automatically installing, by the gaming terminal, the game software component update to reconfigure the gaming terminal in accordance with rules of the gaming jurisdiction in which the gaming terminal is located to enable play of a game following receipt of a physical item associated with a monetary value by the acceptor and establishment of a credit balance based at least in part on the monetary value associated with the received physical item, the play of the game provided upon receipt of a wager deducted from the credit balance, the play of the game resulting in an outcome, the credit balance increasable by any award associated with the outcome.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the game software component update is one selected from the group consisting of:

a game paytable, a game bonus, a game progressive, game graphics, game sounds, and game networking components.

13. The method of claim 11, which includes communicating, by the at least one remote configuration device and to the gaming terminal, the selected game software component update via a wireless network interface or a wired network interface.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the update trigger occurs when a profitability level of the gaming terminal falls below a designated profitability level.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the game is different than a game playable on the gaming terminal before the game software component update was installed.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the game is a different type of game than a game playable on the gaming terminal before the game software component update was installed.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the update trigger occurs at a designated time of day.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the update trigger occurs on a designated date.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the update trigger occurs based on game performance.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the game software component update is a first game software component update if the gaming terminal is located in a first jurisdiction and a second different game software component update if the gaming terminal is located in a second different jurisdiction.